Robin Soderling vs. Lleyton Hewitt – Second Round Preview: Wimbledon Championships 2011
World number five, Robin Soderling of Swede takes to the courts of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London on Thursday, 23rd June as he takes on the number one Aussie Lleyton Hewitt for their
second round match at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships.
Sporting an impressive 32-8 for the season, Soderling is clearly the favourite to win the match. Starting the year at the 2011 Brisbane International, the Swede clinched his first title of the season after he ousted defending champion,
Andy Roddick. A not-so-great run followed at the season opening Grand Slam, the 2011 Australian Open, when Soderling fell to the Ukrainian dark horse, Alexandr Dolgopolov in the fourth round.
Returning to tour, Soderling belted two more titles as he enjoyed successful final runs at the 2011 Open 13 in Marseille and the 2011 ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam. Going strong on tour, Soderling was expected to
clinch several more titles and climb further up the rankings ladder. However, come Masters Series, Soderling fell short and started exiting in quarterfinals or less.
Soderling also made it to the quarterfinals of the season’s second Grand Slam event, the 2011 Roland Garros, before losing to eventual champion Rafael Nadal.
Playing in his ninth Wimbledon this year, Soderling has never made it past the quarterfinals here. Debuting in 2003, his career best here came last year when he lost to Nadal.
The only blot in Soderling’s stats might be the 1-3 trail in his head-to-head against the former champion here, Hewitt. However, perhaps a one hit wonder, the former world number one has lost his glory. Plagued by injuries and
age, Hewitt has not been playing great tennis recently.
Although both player took four sets to pass their opening round matches here, Hewitt’s sets were forced to tiebreakers, even the ones he won. In their fourth meeting on tour, Soderling is expected to reduce the deficit in the pair’s
head-to-head. The two pros had last met in the round of 32 at the Cincinnati Masters, when Soderling had finally snapped Hewitt’s three match winning streak, though the Swede had bounced back to struggle past in three sets. Perhaps Soderling suffers from a
mental block against Hewitt, though it is not very likely.
A miserable 6-6 for the season, Hewitt has participated in only six events this season with three quarterfinal appearances at San Jose, Memphis and Halle. A first round exit from the 2011 Australian Open and absent from the 2011
Roland Garros, Hewitt has a poor Grand Slam record this season.
Showing a 38-11 for his twelve years here, Hewitt holds a title here which he won back in 2002 after defeating Argentine David Nalbandian. However, having lost his glory since, Hewitt is expected to not put much of a resistance
against the Swede.
Prediction: Soderling is expected to move past the former world number one in straight sets.
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