Robin Bo Carl Soderling; A look at the 2010 BNP Paribas Masters champion
Born on 14 August 1984 in the city of Tibro, Robin Bo Carl Soderling is a professional tennis player from Sweden. The right hander is currently ranked number four in the South African Airways ATP list. He is best known for making his way into a total of two French Open finals back in 2009 and this season. On both occasions, he overpowered the defending champion on his way into the final.
Soderling started off his 2010 campaign by contesting at the 2010 Aircel Chennai Open where he was the seeded number one to win the title. The Swede however was upset in the opening round at the hands of Robby Ginepri of the USA.
Seeded eight at the year’s first Grand Slam, the Australian Open in Melbourne, Soderling once again couldn’t even win his opening round match as he was dispatched off by Marcel Granollers of Spain in five sets. The final match score was 7–5, 6–2, 4–6, 4–6, 2–6.
The Monte Carlo resident then received a wild card entry into the 2010 ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament and was seeded number three to win the title. He triumphed in his first ATP match of the season beating Florent Serra in three sets in the first round and eventually went on to win the title when leading 6–4, 2–0 versus Mikhail Youzhny who couldn’t finish the match as a result of his hamstring injury.
At the 2010 Open 13 in Marseille, the top seeded Swede was defeated in the quarter final round by the ultimate winner Michael Llodra in two sets. The final match score was 6–7, 4–6.
The 1.93 meters tall Soderling next played at the French Open and was seeded number five to win the crown. This was the very first time in his career when he outlasted Roger Federer. The Swede’s win also snapped Roger’s streak of twenty four semi final appearances in a row at major events and marked the second straight season that Robin dismissed the defending champion. In the semi final, he brushed aside the fifteen seed Tomas Berdych in a five set marathon to make his way into his second straight final in Roland Garros. The Swede met Rafael Nadal in the title battle and could not stop the current world number one as he lost it in the end in three sets. The final match score was 4–6, 2–6, and 4–6.
After another impressive performance at French Open, the Tibro born entered the 2010 Wimbledon tournament as the sixth seed where he couldn’t go beyond the quarter final stage, losing at the hands of ultimate winner Rafael Nadal in four sets. The final score line was 6–3, 3–6, 6–7, 1–6.
At the 2010 Western & Southern Financial Group Masters, top ranked Swedish player was bundled out of the event by his American foe, Andy Roddick in the third round in three sets. The final match score was 4–6, 6–3, 7–5.
Entering the last major event of the season, the United States Open in New York, the fifth seed Soderling beat Andreas Haider-Maurer in a hard fought five set first round. Second up, he knocked down Taylor Dent comfortably in three sets. The final match score was 6–2, 6–2, and 6–4. The right hander was at last sent packing by the Swiss tennis maestro, Roger Federer in the quarters in three sets.
In his most recent run at the BNP Paribas Masters Men’s singles competition in Bercy, Soderling after receiving a first round bye surpassed Gilles Simon in straight sets. He made his way into the title battle after posting victories over Stanislas Wawrinka, Andy Roddick and Michael Llodra. In the title battle, the Swede swept aside Gael Monfils of Spain in two sets. The final match score was 6-1, 7-6(7-1).
By virtue of his title victory, Robin Soderling of Sweden also reached his career high ranking of world number four on the tour.
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