Robin Soderling's French Open Run Continues
06 June 2009
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Ok so it may not have been the semi-final line-up that we were all expecting at the beginning of the tournament, let’s face it we were all looking forward to a Nadal-Murray showdown, but that didn’t make the Fernando Gonzalez vs. Robin Soderling match any less exciting.
12th seed Gonzalez perhaps edged it as the favourite dropping just one set on his way to the semi-final but Soderling has been on an impressive streak of form since putting out defending champion and world number one Rafael Nadal.
And that impressive form continued as Soderling took full advantage of an under-par Gonzalez whose games was littered with errors. Soderling fired off four games in a row, breaking Gonzalez twice in the process to seal the first set 6-3.
While it was not the Gonzalez that we saw dispatch Murray in such a clinical fashion in the quarter final his game did improve in the second set and despite facing more break points he overcame the Soderling challenge to lead in the second 5-4.
Soderling, who had the pressure of former champion Bjorn Borg looking on, looked like he was going to falter and allow Gonzalez to level the match but holding and with the help of two massive serves saw himself out of trouble.
After letting the break slip by him the confidence seemed to desert Gonzalez as a poor service game from him and a great hold from Swede Soderling saw him fall two sets behind.
It looked like Soderling was going to be the first man into the French Open finals but Chilean Gonzalez, the most popular sportsman in his home country, had other ideas as he suddenly found the game that had got him to the semis.
Soderling seemed to be faulting under the pressure of making his first Grand Slam final and the third set, which was another tight affair, went the way of Gonzalez.
The Philippe Chatrier court had plenty to cheer about as the comeback was on as Gonzalez battled through break points at the beginning of the fourth set to keep his final dreams alive.
Gonzalez questioned a line call, a call which didn’t go his way, but he didn’t loose his focus as the Swede crumbled at the end of the fourth to allow the Chilean to level the match.
The momentum was well and truly on the side of Gonzalez, the more experienced player having reached a Grand Slam final once before, as he opened up a 3-0 to love lead.
Incredibly Soderling relaxed and fought back holding his nerve to finally see of the Gonzalez challenge to secure a deserved, if somewhat surprise place in Sunday’s final.
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