Top seed Soderling out in Chennai first round

CHENNAI, India (Reuters) - Swede Robin Soderling's preparations for this month's Australian Open suffered a setback on Tuesday when he lost 6-4 7-5 to American Robby Ginepri in the first round of the Chennai Open where he was the top seed.

"Everything went wrong. I tried my best but nothing went my way. I haven't felt like that in a very long time," world number eight Soderling told reporters after his error-strewn display against the world number 100.

"It's not the ideal preparation for Australian Open. But hopefully I will feel better as I play more matches. I am next playing Kooyong exhibition tournament in Melbourne."

Soderling, who began the new year by beating top-ranked Roger Federer in an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi, lost the opening set after he was broken in the seventh game following a spate of unforced errors.

The Swede, who last year reached the French Open final and the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open, had beaten the American in their only previous meeting at the 2007 Hamburg Masters.

The 25-year-old Swede blew a 4-1 lead in the second set after he allowed the American to save three break points and claw his way back.

Ginepri, U.S. Open semi-finalist in 2005, broke Soderling again in the seventh game as the Swede missed three overhead shots to hand his opponent the advantage.

"I had a little problem seeing the ball when I was moving back. Missed three overhead shots in one game," said Soderling.

Ginepri said he was moving better and that had helped.

"I felt good today, I moved well. It's always tough to play well in your first match of the season," the American said.

"I have had more time to prepare. I was here on Thursday so had better understanding of the conditions. He (Soderling) came only two days back, so probably didn't have enough time."

(Editing by Sonia Oxley)