Sodering, Verdasco play high-altitude tennis

Top 10 stars Robin Soderling of Sweden and Spain's Fernando Verdasco played some high-altitude tennis on Monday ahead of their participation at the Barcelona Open.

They hit some balls on a court on the 21st-floor terrace of a hotel overlooking Barcelona's beach and port. Both appeared to enjoy the experience although, given the circumstances, the tennis on display was more of an extremely gentle knock-up rather than anything competitive.

Verdasco, who made the trip to Barcelona after reaching his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final in Monte-Carlo where he lost to Rafael Nadal on Sunday, opens against either Igor Andreev or Richard Gasquet.

For his part, Soderling will face Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina. World number seven Soderling is seeded second. The Swede has gone from strength to strength since dethroning Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros last year, winning events in Bastad and Rotterdam, and is competing in Barcelona for the third time in his career.