Robin Soderling wins against Tomas Berdych; moves into the final – SkiStar Swedish Open 2011
The Swedes have got a reason to party! Home favourite Robin Soderling, top seed at the 2011 SkiStar Swedish Open is through to the final. Soderling easily brokered an upset against the third seed Czech Tomas Berdych in Saturday’s
first semi final match on the Bastad Tennis Courts. The stands erupted with joy as the Swede sealed the score board at 6-1, 6-0 banishing Berdych from the tournament.
Soderling had earlier defeated Italian Potito Starace, seeded eighth, in a heated match that ended 60, 67(5), and 62 in Soderling’s favour. While Berdych had easily dismissed Slovenian Blaz Kavcic, who had earlier received a walkover
to the top eight round. Soderling’s effective dismissal of Berdych today raises their head to head rankings to 6-3.
Soderling opened the first game of the match and quickly took the game to 5-0 by registering two serve breaks in games 2 and 4 of the first set. Soderling’s impressive serves and strong performance behind the base line meant a
swift downfall for his opponent. Berdych made some headway against Soderling but only in the sixth game of the set when he scored the sole game. But he was unable to increase his cache of points further and Soderling easily stole the first set 6-1.
Whatever competition Berdych had been able to offer in the first set, dwindled to zero in the second. Berdych opened serve in the first game of this set and was deftly besieged by Soderling who recovered a serve break in that first
game. Berdych was able to register two more serve breaks to devastate his feeble opponent. Berdych was unable to win even a single breakpoint while Soderling saved all three of the breakpoints that he faced.
Overall Soderling won 14 service points, 16 return points for a total of 30 points in the match. While Berdych managed 10 service points and 8 return points, totalling to a lowly 18 points.
The Swede can now rejoice. He is safely settled in the final of the tournament where he’ll have to duel with either the second seed David Ferrer or fourth seed Nicolas Almagro.
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