Soderling and Birdych have both tried their best to throw away this match
Roland Garros 2010
- Thread starter Baby Faced Assassin
- Start date
Soderling up a break in the first game of the fifth. Berdych looks like he's getting a bit jumpy.
Women's tennis has been struggling for ages now. Even more so after the likes of Henin and Cljisters retired. The quality of tennis very poor. Players like Ivanovic, Safina and Jankovic have just faded away. Sharapova is either modelling or just injured. Williams only ever care about the Grand Slams.
Mens tennis has a lot of quality. Sure there are a lot of chokers like Djokovic and Murray and Roddick but it's got a lot more quality with the likes of Federer, Nadal and Del Potro among others.
And it's not like the women are not "boring"
Actually you're wrong. Women's Tennis has risen dramatically in stature over the past 15 years or so. The ascent of the Williams Sisters had a lot to do with it in America, as did the likes of Henin and Clijsters when they first blew up in the early 2000s, Kournakova pop star like celebrity, the rise of others like Sharapova and Ivanovic etc. There's far more brand recognition these days than during Evert/Martina/Graf years.
4-3, Soderling just broke Berdych's serve.
Söderling's in the final.
Nadal too, I think.
I am a bit torn. I want Soderling to win his first slam but I also want Rafa to win another slam and get No. 1.
Rafa all the way!
Serving for match now, and he's 3 break points down
Serving for match now, and he's 3 break points down
Nadal Soderling it is. Go on Rafa, get your revenge.
There is history between these two. Hope Nadal thrashes Sod
There is history between these two. Hope Nadal thrashes Sod
I wish Rafa would speed up his game though. So annoying having to watch him wait 1 hour before each serve.
And he actually played better against Almagro after he got a time violation.
And he actually played better against Almagro after he got a time violation.
He's actually quick enough now. Djokovic takes far more time than Nadal with his ball bouncing techniques
Decent start to this. Neither looks overawed by the occasion, so it could be a good match.
Well that's that. Schiavone can jet off to South Africa now.
Looking forward to the Mens Final.
Looking forward to the Mens Final.
Great performance by Pirlo. Dominated Stosur
Two Champions League trophies surely elevated her Tennis, although it was following the crushing loss to the Dippers where she vowed to make it up at Roland Garros.
Nadal will crush Soderling tomorrow....straight sets win, easy as you like.
^^ I can just hope but Nadal fears Soderling I think now. That loss last year will play on his mind. And plus if the weather is gloomy and rainy the damp and heavy conditions will really work for Sod. Nadal's top spin won't work at all and the clay court will work like a Hard Court.
When is the final?
Hoping for Soderling personally.
Hoping for Soderling personally.
I hope to see Nadal winning this tournament but I think Soderling (if he doesn't fail from psychological POV) will crush him
That defeat to Soderling last year really scarred Nadal. He had been invincible at the court till then for 4 years. The defeat lead to worst part of Nadal's career for the next 1 year until this clay court season.
He really needs to win. I hope we see the Soderling of the semi final turn up rather than the Soderling of the Federer match.
He really needs to win. I hope we see the Soderling of the semi final turn up rather than the Soderling of the Federer match.
Rafa off to a good start. Soderling looks nervous.
Soderling looks extremely nervy. Bearing in mind Nadal has been out of sight against Federer within an hour in previous French Open Finals, he needs to be very careful, or this could be all but over before he starts playing.
Soderling looks to have settled in a bit. Almost came back and broke Nadal. This looks to be going more than three sets.
At best this goes to 4 sets. I know Soderling and Rafa have history, but I just can't see anything but a comfortable Nadal win.
*I hate Nadal btw.
*I hate Nadal btw.
Let's see, even thought Rafa has the first set, Soderling has come close to breaking him twice. Plus Soderling is suddenly getting excellent depth on his ground strokes. I wouldn't bet against 5.
I'd feckin' hate to play against Nadal. You hit what would be a winner against anyone else, and he gets to it like it was nothing at all, and puts you in trouble with the return.
Anyone noticing that Soderling is coming close to breaking Rafa in nearly every service game, and yet seems to have an easier time holding his own serve.
He reminds me a lot of Wilander with a bit of power.
He reminds me a lot of Wilander with a bit of power.
Ridiculous how he got those returns back and saved the break.
I can't believe some of the defending by Nadal.He can save himself from impossible situations that every other top player couldn't.
Some extraordinary points in this 2nd set
Some extraordinary points in this 2nd set
A lot of WTF stuff from Nadal now.
Rafa is a physical freak.
Again, unbelievable defending.
Nadal wins second, should be all over soon.
Soderling appeared mentally weak in the 2nd. He needs to get it together now.
Yeah, he's bottling it now.
I knew Nadal would be way too good for him in the key points.
Told you it would be easy, Nadals leagues ahead of every other player on clay.
New world Number 1.
New world Number 1.
I don't think its a case of Soderling playing very bad (although clearly not as good as he was against Fed), but rather Rafa being in world class form on clay, which makes him essentially unstoppable.
Yeah it's hard to blame Soderling, Nadal is a prick of a player to play against. Even overhead smashes aren't easily put away against him, and that little bit extra he forces the opponent to do, causes the errors and eventually they get frustrated.
He is unlucky he has played for a few years in the era of Federer, or else he would have at least a couple of more Grand Slams. I do however feel, his style of play, and he amount of tennis he plays, means he won't have a very long career.
He is unlucky he has played for a few years in the era of Federer, or else he would have at least a couple of more Grand Slams. I do however feel, his style of play, and he amount of tennis he plays, means he won't have a very long career.