Tennis Update: Preview U.S. Open- Roger Federer vs. Robin Soderling
Nearly two weeks ago the drumbeat began.
"Everybody has been telling me since the draw came out I'm going against Roger in the quarters," Robin Soderling said last Saturday. "He still needs to win two more matches, and I still have to win one more. It's still far ahead."
Well, that’s a nice sentimental statement, but it was not surprising for anyone when the No. 2 seed Roger Federer and the No. 5 seed Robin Soderling reached the quarters here at U.S. Open 2010. That purely theoretical match is now a reality and Wednesday night the two professional tennis players will meet for the fifth time in the past seven Grand Slam Events.
Since the 26-year-old Swede’s sentimental game stabilized and his speedy shots began to find the court more reliable, he’s been seeing a lot of Federer.
On Monday night, after beating Jurgen Melzer, Federer said that he doesn’t feel that there are really hidden secrets between him and Melzer. Federer played nicely like any big server, tried to read the serve, got into good baseline rallies and tried to move him around, or in simpler words, he just played a solid match.
The world No. 2 is able to do that 12 times out of 13. Its matter up to him now that if he can do it again now.
It’s not arrogant if it’s a fact, right? Federer has won 13 of their matches, but that one exception is all which is in the air here at the National Tennis Center.
Soderling memorably, leaded the defending French Open champion to the exit in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros. Roland Garros is the same spot in which he finds himself three months later. Unfortunately, Soderling lost the first set in Paris but managed to win the fourth.
Obviously, those were the toughest conditions for both players playing on wet clay because it was raining that day. That’s what Soderling learnt in his last match. It will be tough for Federer now because this champion has gotten a taste of how to beat him.
The Sweden player, Robin Soderling defeated Rafael Nadal in the fourth round at Roland Garros in 2009. That was the only match which Rafael Nadal lost in his career out of 39 matches there.
Soderling and Juan Martin Del Potro are the only players managed to beat both Federer and Nadal in a Grand Slam event. Del Potro defeated them at last year’s U.S Open on the way to his first major title, beating Federer in the final. Soderling is the only one to beat both of them when they were ranked No. 1.
Part of Federer’s greatness is understanding his opponents, their strong point and weak point intimately. This is how he broke Soderling’s recently developed techniques.
"Maybe he's calmer on the court now. Maybe he doesn't see all the other opponents as enemies. Maybe he realizes that the tour is not all that bad as it once was. I don't think he was enjoying it as much a few years ago. Who knows, maybe his girlfriend [Jenni Mostrom] also calmed him down, the whole deal.”
However, the little things could have a huge impact. It took a long time for Federer to understand that staying calm was going to better for his game and performance and that’s what he realized at the age of 20.
The upcoming match on Wednesday would be very interesting. If Soderling wins the match, he will move to No. 4 position in the ATP World Tour rankings and a title here will take him to No. 2.
"I'm pretty sure how I need to play to have a chance to win," Soderling said.
The upcoming match is going to be the one of the most stimulating matches of U.S. Open 2010. Let’s see who will manage to go through the semi-finals and will live up to the expectations of the spectators all around the World.
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