2010 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals: Match Review – Robin Soderling versus David Ferrer
Wrapping up the Group B singles action for the day, Swede Robin Soderling faced Spaniard David Ferrer in a decisive match on Tuesday. Soderling managed a straight, yet not so simple, set win over Ferrer. The Swede struggled past
the Spaniard with a twin set score of 7-5, 7-5.
Both players came into the match after having lost their opening clashes. Soderling was humbled by Andy Murray with a straight sets win whereas Roger Federer crushed Ferrer with a 6-1, 6-4 win. Coming into the match win-less, it
was imperative for both players to secure a win to stay in the title run. Although it was close in both sets, Soderling’s powerful serve came through for him giving him a 1-1 mark in the event. Ferrer, on the other hand, has dropped to a 0-2 record making
it extremely important for him to win against Murray on Thursday if he is to have any hopes of making it into the semifinals.
Soderling won the toss and was first to serve. Managing a forty-love win in the opener, the Swede was quick to wrap up the first game taking the lead 1-0. Ferrer, who also desperately needed a win would not let up. Following closely
on his heels, Ferrer managed to level the score at 5-5 winning all the games on his service. Serving for the eleventh game, Soderling took the lead at 6-5 and then breaking through Ferrer’s serve in the twelfth game and winning it on deuce he managed to secure
a one set lead for himself. Soderling was first to take the lead, though Ferrer managed to level the score at 2-2. At this point serving for the seventeenth game, Soderling managed to catch a lucky break for himself and won the next three games taking the
lead to 5-2. With only a game away from victory, Soderling eased a bit giving Ferrer the fighting chance he needed. Winning the next three consecutive games, Ferrer managed to level the score at 5-5. The second set pretty much followed the first from here
on, with Soderling winning the twenty-third game on his service and then breaking service in the twenty-fourth, the Swede managed to scrape another set win for himself.
Although Soderling committed 43 unforced errors, but his service came through for him. Serving twelve aces and losing only eighteen points on service in the entire match, the Swede was able to secure a win for himself in one hour
and forty-one minutes. Talking about the match Soderling reflected, "I served very well, especially in the first set. But it was tough. It was a close match, two really tough sets. I'm lucky that I won. I still feel that I have a lot of things that I can improve.
Hopefully I can do that in two days' time and play a good match in my next match."
Soderling came into the event fresh from a title win at Paris Masters totalling his title count for the season to two. He had previously won the ATP event at Rotterdam. He was also the finalist at the Roland Garros. Winning the
Paris Masters, Soderling seemed to be in top form. Although the “top form” hit a bump against Murray on Sunday, it returned to full swing in his match against Ferrer. Meeting Ferrer for the thirteenth time on the court, Soderling managed to up his head-to-head
lead to 9-4. Soderling improves to a 57-21 mark for the season whereas Ferrer drops to 60-23 record with the loss.
Ferrer giving Soderling the due credit told the press, “I tried to do my best,” said Ferrer. “I fought to won the second set. But Robin played better than me and he had more chances all the match.”
Soderling next plays Federer in the afternoon session on Thursday whereas Ferrer meets Murray in the evening in a must win clash.
Tags: