Rafael Nadal, Robin Soderling, Novak Djokovic and Nikolay Davydenko kick off Group B on Monday.
But Soderling showed few signs of nerves with an immediate break of service to lead 3-0.
"It's been a very good week overall, " Soderling told the official ATP Tour Web site.
After Federer moved 2-1 ahead, Soderling powered his way to 2-2 by holding to love.
"Physically, I feel very good, " said Soderling, who is working under new Italian coach Claudio Pistolesi.
That was enough to end Soderling's resistence as Davydenko held serve twice to go through.
Compatriot Safin struggled to look on the bright side despite his win over Soderling.
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Soderling hopes the manner of his victories bodes well for another run deep into the tournament.
Soderling, meanwhile, will be kicking himself failing to take his chances against a below-par Djokovic.
In the 2010 final, Nadal hit 51 first serves to Soderling's backhand versus 21 to the forehand.
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In Thursday's quarterfinals, fifth seed Robin Soderling of Sweden takes on No. 13 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia.
The third set was essentially decided when Soderling double-faulted to gift Federer a break in game one.
It is not so easy for Tsonga or Soderling to reach the final and win the tournament.
Del Potro looked weary after his epic three-set semifinal win over Swede Robin Soderling the previous night.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with both players trading breaks, but Soderling looking the more solid.
Fifth seed Soderling moved into the third round with a 7-6 (7-5) 6-0 win over Australia's Peter Luczak.
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At 4-4 in the breaker, Soderling tamely netted to hand Davydenko the chance he had been waiting for.
Sweden's Robin Soderling progressed in straight sets as he overcame the serve of Janko Tipsarevic 6-3 7-6 (7-5).
Nadal's only loss at the French Open came against a similar player in 2009, the two-time finalist Robin Soderling.
"They are both big wins, of course, " said Soderling when asked to compare the victories over Federer and Nadal.
But the world number three dug deep to see off the danger and Soderling blinked first in game eight.
Elsewhere, fifth seed Robin Soderling of Sweden beat Italian wild card Paolo Lorenzi 6-1 7-5 to reach the third round.
"Everything went wrong for me, " Soderling said after his 6-4 7-5 reverse to a player ranked 100th in the world.
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He gained the first of three mini-breaks at 1-1 and, aided by four magnificent aces, left Soderling to chase shadows.
Soderling hit a string of winners - 46 in total - to which world number 179 Recouderc simply had no answer.
Soderling will play Igor Sijsling in the second round after the Dutch qualifier defeated Germany's Mischa Zverev 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 7-5.
The 27-year-old Swiss produced a near-faultless display in testing conditions to dominate Sweden's Soderling, a shock finalist, from start to finish.
Eighth seed Soderling blew a two-set lead as he crashed out, losing 5-7 2-6 6-4 6-4 6-2 to young Spaniard Marcel Granollers.
"I played really well from the back of the court, " said Soderling.
In Wednesday's quarter-finals, Federer will face Sweden's Robin Soderling, the fifth seed, while third seed Novak Djokovic takes on Frenchman Gael Monfils.
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