Internazionali BNL d’Italia: Novak Djokovic vs. Robin Soderling – Quarterfinal Preview
All eyes are fixed upon the most awaited quarter-final of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, featuring the world number two, Novak Djokovic of Serbia and the fifth ranked Swede, Robin Soderling. The highly anticipated contest will
be played at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy on Friday night, as two of the top ranked players battle it out for a place in the semis of the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 1000 tournament.
The mighty Serb is ruling the tennis world and is reckoned to be totally unplayable these days. Djokovic has got the second best start to an ATP season, winning all the 34 matches he has played this year. Only the legendary John
McEnroe has got a longer winning streak than Djokovic, which is 42 straight matches way back in 1984. The second ranked Serb has already clinched six ATP championship titles this year, including the all-prestigious Grand Slam, the Australian Open in January.
The outstanding performances of Djokovic make him hot favourite for the contest against Soderling and the Serb is considered to be the strongest contender to win the tournament at Rome.
Djokovic received a bye to the second round at Rome and outclassed Lukasz Kubot of Poland in the second round. The 23-year-old Serb blew away the 14thseed Swiss, Stanislas Wawrinka in straight sets 6-4, 6-1, in third
round to make it to his seventh consecutive quarter-final of the year. He is still to lose a set in the tournament but it is expected that the Serb will have a stiff contest against Soderling in the round of eight.
The fifth ranked Swede is having a shaky run in the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, winning both of his last matches in the third sets. He edged passed Fernando Verdasco of Spain in the second round 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 and then defeated
Nicolas Almagro of Spain in the third round 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, to meet the world number two in the quarter-final. Soderling’s current form does not hint that he will be able to take down the blistering Djokovic but the Swede is sure to put up a great fight in
the quarter-final.
The two men have encountered each other six times in the past, with the Serb leading their head-to-head series by 5-1. It is worth noting that Soderling was victorious in his last meeting with Djokovic, which was in London two
years ago, defeating Djokovic in straight sets 7-6(5), 6-1. The Swede will surely want to replicate that memorable feat in Rome this time but it will require him to come up with something extra ordinary to break the 34-match winning streak of Djokovic.
The only match the two players played on clay surface was back in 2007 at the same venue, where the Serb defeated Soderling in a three-setter 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the opening round. Djokovic will be eyeing to extend his winning streak
in Rome and win his seventh championship title of the year. It won’t be wrong to say that the Serb is the hit favourite for the contest but Soderling has also got the abilities to outplay any opponent in the tennis world.
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