Robin Soderling vs Tomas Berdych – Semi-final Preview: SkiStar Swedish Open 2011
Top seed and home favourite Robin Soderling, currently ranked at No.5 in the singles ranking is all set to reclaim his title and avenge last year’s final at the 2011 SkiStar Swedish Open. He will duel with third seed Czech Tomas
Berdych, currently ranked at No. 8 in the world, in the semi-final match on the clay courts of Bastad this Saturday. The appetizing match is already drawing tennis fans’ attention the world over as it ensures an action packed thriller guaranteeing its winner
a berth in the final.
Robin Soderling registered his 20th win at Bastad this week by bulldozing the eight seed, Italian Potito Starace in a straight set 6-3, 6-4 win in the quarterfinal. The match continued for a little over an hour and Soderling
did not even face a single breakpoint in the entire match.
Tomas Berdych easily routed Slovenia’s Blaz Kavcic in a 6-1, 6-4 win in their quarterfinal match. The third seed’s victory tallied his total this season to 34 with only 13 matches lost. Berdych has been a two time runner up in
the tournament while the other three semi finalists have all previously held the title in the past.
The two will open play on the Centre Court on Saturday, the first semi final of the tournament. Currently Robin Soderling leads in head-to-head ranking by 6-3 against Berdych, with a 2-1 career mark on clay and Soderling has won
four of their last five matches. They last met at 2010’s edition of the Roland Garros and the Swede took home the game in five closely contested sets. Soderling’s season this year went off to a flying start with the mark at 18-1, a career best in just the
first two months of the season. He clinched three ATP World Tour titles beginning in Brisbane where he defeated Andy Roddick, then at Rotterdam by defeating Tsonga and at Marseille by defeating Cilic. He now holds an enviable 18-8 mark and by winning this
match will reach his first final since February this year.
Soderling currently leads the tournament in the number of first service points won (82%), return games won (53%).
Berdych, the 2005 and 2008 runner up, is destined to appear in his fifth semi final of the season. The third seed Czech is now in the midst of a very successful season and holds a steady record of 34-13 for the year. As previously
mentioned Berdych has been a finalist twice in the Swedish Open, first losing to Rafael Nadal in 2005 and then in 2008 against Tommy Robredo. However the tell tale signs of caution for Berdych are his semi final losses this season – at Chennai, Dubai, Halle
and Nice.
Soderling however should be able to overcome Berdych in a three set victory this Saturday.
Tags: