Roger Federer defeats Robin Soderling in the quarterfinal of the Mutua Madrid Open
World number three, Roger Federer is through to the semi-final of the ATP Mutua Madrid Open after comfortably winning his quarterfinal match against the world number five Robin Soderling . The Swiss was in impressive form as he
swept aside Soderling 7-6(2), 6-4 in just 102 minutes.
Soderling’s game was very solid and his legs were fast enough to chase the ball but he couldn’t keep the momentum and lost the match in straight sets. Federer on the other hand completely dominated the match as he was far better
from the baseline and made some good aggressive net rushes to grab some crucial points. He scored 70 percent of points on his service game and 33 percent of points on return. Though the world number three had control of majority of points, but couldn’t managed
to make a real dent on Soderling’s serve. Being very solid on serve against Soderling, Federer took his chances well and took the match in straight sets.
The opening set was played on a very aggressive note. Federer and Soderling exchanged serve breaks in the set as it went into a tie-breaker. Soderling broke the serve first with a tremendous forehand winner down the line but Federer
showed extraordinary temperament and determination to break back immediately. In the tie-breaker Soderling only put 2 points on the scoreboard to give Federer the lead with 7-6(2).
Soderling tightened up his game and showed better tennis early in the second set. However, with the game score tightened at 3-3, Federer had another opportunity of breaking the serve. He converted 100 percent of the break points
to earn an impassable 5-3 lead in the set, serving for the match. Although Soderling saved two of the three breakpoints, he couldn’t stop the world number three from earning a well deserved victory in the set where a single break of serve decided the outcomes
of the match. By the end of the match, Federer had clinched 10 points more than Soderling to assure his berth in the semi final of the tournament.
Federer now moves into the semi final of the tournament, where he will square off against arch-rival Rafael Nadal. Nadal defeated Michael Llodra of France 6-2, 6-2 to reach the semi-final of Mutua Madrid Open. Both players have
contested the title match past two years, with Federer prevailing in straight sets in 2009 before the Spaniard avenged that defeat with victory in 2010 to payback the favour. This is going to be the twenty fourth meeting of their career and second meeting
of the season after Nadal comfortably prevailed over the Swiss in the semi-finals in Miami. This is going to be a mouth-watering semi-final clash especially when two arch-rivals are going head-to-head.
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