Soderling shocks Federer in French Open comeback win
By DPA, IANSTuesday, June 1, 2010
PARIS - Swede Robin Soderling rallied after losing the first set to deny Roger Federer his place in a 24th consecutive Grand Slam semi-final with a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 defeat Tuesday in the quarter-finals of the French Open.
The loss opens the door for Rafael Nadal to regain the world number one ranking from the Swiss and prevent Federer - momentarily - from overtaking Pete Sampras for the most weeks spent atop the ATP standings.
Nadal, winner of four of the last five Paris editions, will have to claim the title Sunday to dethrone Federer, who hammered Soderling in the 2009 Roland Garros final after the Swede had knocked out Nadal in the fourth round.
Soderling, one of the biggest hitters in the game, came 13th time lucky as he beat Federer for the first time after a dozen defeats, including matches in four of the last five Grand Slams.
The match was interrupted by rain at 5-5 in the second set, with the players off court for an hour and a quarter.
When they returned, the Swiss top seed was never again able to get on top of his determined rival.
Federer earned a break in the second game of the fourth set only to lose it a game later on a wide return. Federer showed a flicker as he won a long seventh game with five deuces and two aces from the Swiss, who fired 12 on the day to 14 for the Swedish fifth seed.
But Soderling dug in with another break in the ninth game to leave himself serving for the match. He advanced to the final four on a first match point as Federer’s return sailed long in the evening gloom.
“I really played well in the tough conditions,” said Soderling. “It was great to finally beat Roger in a tough match and at this big venue.”
The defeat was the earliest for Federer in Paris since going out in the 2003 third round.
Coming into the match, Soderling had won just two sets against Federer in their one-way series, losing 28 of the first 30 played.
The winner will next face Czech Tomas Berdych, who comfortably defeated Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-1, 6-2.
In the women’s draw, Italian Francesca Schiavone fell to the ground and planted a kiss on the clay after reaching her first Grand Slam semi-final.
The veteran booked passage into the final four as she upset third seed Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 6-3.
“The emotion is biggest pleasure,” said the winner.
“When you work hard every morning, every afternoon of your life, and a good result arrives … Now I want to enjoy. For me, it’s great - it’s really something special,” she said.
The three-time quarter-finalist at the majors will play to become the first Italian woman in a Grand Slam final as she faces fifth seed Elena Dementieva, who rallied to beat Russian compatriot Nadia Petrova 2-6, 6-2, 6-0.
At 19, Wozniacki was the youngest player remaining in the draw while Schiavone was the oldest at 29. The Italian broke on six of her eight chances in the straightforward victory.
Schiavone was playing her second quarter-final at Roland Garros nine years after her first as she ran her record over Wozniacki to 2-0.
The winner of the Barcelona clay title earlier this season is at the event for the tenth time and stands 4-6 against Dementieva.
“We’ve played many tournaments together, Schiavone said of upcoming opponent Dementieva.
“I respect her, she’s a great athlete. It will be good match. We are good athletes, physically and mentally strong.”
