Rafael Nadal defeats Robin Soderling to reach Wimbledon semis
Rafael Nadal is through to the semi-finals at Wimbledon after defeating Robin Soderling in four sets in their quarter-final match.
And with defending champion Roger Federer knocked out of Wimbledon earlier in the day, the Spaniard must now be favourite to win the title at the All England Club this year.
It was Soderling who began the stronger of the two, the sixth seed’s aggression (he hit eight winners to Nadal’s one in the first set) helping him to the early advantage in the match as he broke Nadal’s serve twice to race to a 5-0 lead and although his opponent clawed his way back into the set, Soderling had opened up a wide enough gap to ensure that 33 minutes after it had begun the first set finished in his favour.
Nadal, with momentum swinging towards him after that first set fight back, held serve with authority in the second, and secured the only break of the set to draw level with the dual French Open runner-up.
An unforced error from the Swede handed Nadal the first break of the second set, and after letting him down at the crucial moment, Soderling duly vented his frustration on his racquet. The sixth seed almost returned the favour soon after, but two break point opportunities went begging and Nadal maintained the ascendency in the set.
That solitary break, however, proved to be too slender of a margin, as a double fault handed Soderling - who had called a medical time-out to attend to blisters on his foot with Nadal leading the set 5-4 – a break point opportunity, and this time the world No. 6 made no mistake about converting it.
With Nadal’s rhythm interrupted, Soderling went on to hold and leave the second seed in the unexpected position of having to serve to stay in the set, a challenge which the Majorcan rose to as he sent the set into a tiebreak, where he won the opening three points and maintained the mini-break to claim a 2-1 advantage in the match.
That it was an unforced error from Soderling’s forehand that handed the set to Nadal was perhaps fitting, with the Swede’s 25 unforced errors more than doubling those of his opponent in the opening three sets.
Unforced errors continued to plague the 25-year-old in the fourth set, as Nadal secured the early break and from there powered his way into the semi-finals with a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-1 victory.
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