Robin Soderling speaks in a soft voice that belies the brutality of a game, which on Sunday booked him the easiest of routes into the French Open second round.
Fernando Verdasco found strength to haul his way back from a set and a break down to reach the final of the Barcelona Open with a 6-7, 7-5, 6-1 win over fellow Spaniard David Ferrer on Saturday. Under hot sun at the Reial Club de Tennis, Verdasco initially appeared to be feeling the effects of his run to the final at last week's Monte Carlo Masters but he dug deep to set up a clash with French Open runner-up Robin Soderling.
The Spanish ace needed 20 minutes and five match points on Wednesday to finish off a rain-hit third round match that spanned three days.
Robin Soderling's smooth buildup to this month's Australian Open continued with a business-like 6-3, 6-2 victory over local qualifier Matt Ebden in their Brisbane International quarter-final on Friday.
Robin Soderling's smooth build-up to this month's Australian Open continued with a business-like 6-3, 6-2 victory over local qualifier Matt Ebden in their Brisbane International quarter-final on Friday.
Defending champion Roger Federer suffered a stunning quarter-final exit at the French Open on Tuesday when the Swiss lost 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 to Sweden's Robin Soderling in a rain-interrupted match on Chatrier Court.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have not put a foot wrong so far at this year's French Open and all signs point to the world's two outstanding men's players duelling for the title on Sunday.
Top seed Robin Soderling got off to a perfect start in front of his Swedish fans on Wednesday when he outclassed Ecuador's Giovanni Lapentti 6-3, 6-0.
Top seed Robin Soderling underlined his credentials as an Australian Open contender by overpowering defending champion Andy Roddick 6-3, 7-5 to win the Brisbane International on Sunday.
Champion-slayer or pantomime villain, call him what you want, but Robin Soderling proved he was no one-hit wonder on Friday when advancing to the French Open final and another showdown with Rafael Nadal.
World No 8 Robin Soderling, the highest-ranked player left in the Barcelona Open after a slew of withdrawals, sprinted into the quarter-finals with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Spain's Feliciano Lopez on Thursday.
A display of violent hitting from Robin Soderling on Saturday showed why it is always unwise to ignore a Swede at the business end of Wimbledon as Serena Williams gave herself a 'must do better' report as she eased into round four.
French Open runner-up Robin Soderling ruined Eduardo Schwank's 24th-birthday celebrations when he thrashed the unseeded Argentine 6-2, 6-3 in the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open on Friday.
Czech Tomas Berdych fought back from a set down to beat Spain's Fernando Verdasco 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 on Thursday and set up a Sony Ericsson Open semi-final against Robin Soderling.
Sweden's Robin Soderling will replace Andy Roddick in the ATP World Tour finals after the American pulled out with a knee injury on Tuesday.
Rafael Nadal, the world's number two tennis player, won the second edition of the Capitala World Tennis Championship in Abh Dhabi on Saturday. The Spanish ace beat Robin Soderling of Sweden 7-6(3), 7-5 to carry away the prize of US $250,000 at the end of a two-hour battle.
Top seed Rafael Nadal swept aside Swede Robin Soderling 6-1, 6-0 at the Rome Masters on Thursday to book a quarter-final with fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco while Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer also had easy wins. Holder Djokovic breezed past 13th seed Tommy Robredo 6-1, 6-1 to set up a last-eight clash with Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro and Federer beat the number 16 seed Radek Stepanek 6-4, 6-1 to avenge last year's defeat here by the Czech.
Images from Day 5 at the French Open in Paris, on Thursday.
French Open runner-up Robin Soderling survived a second-set fightback from Juan Ignacio Chela to defeat the Argentine 7-5, 7-5 in the second round of the Barcelona Open on Tuesday.
Until this year Robin Soderling's career could be described as steady rather than spectacular, a solid pro but one unlikely to really worry the top guys.
A look at the 10 landmark matches from the 20-times Grand Slam champion's career.
Ninth seed Gilles Simon booked his place in the third round of the Cincinnati Masters on Tuesday after a 7-6, 6-7, 6-1 win over Russian Igor Andreev.
Rafael Nadal is the oldest title winner in the history of the clay-court tournament.
Roger Federer and Serena Williams booked a second round berth, while Robin Soderling was booted out, during the Australian Open on Tuesday.
Robin Soderling is sick of being the answer to a favourite quiz question, the one which asks who is the only player to beat nine-times champion Rafael Nadal at the French Open.
List of French Open men's singles champions:
Factbox on Rafael Nadal, who beat Novak Djokovic 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 on Sunday to win a record-extending 13th French Open title:
Rafa Nadal pummelled Croatia's Marin Cilic into submission with a brutish 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 victory to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals on Monday.
While champions have crashed all around him at Roland Garros, Rafael Nadal has arrived at the French Open semi-finals unruffled and bang on course to reclaim his crown.
Images from Day 9 at the French Open in Paris, on Monday.
Factbox on Rafael Nadal, who beat Dominic Thiem to win his 12th French Open title:
The 20-times Grand Slam champion is putting various items under the hammer in two sales in June and July at Christie's to raise money for his foundation.
Yuki Bhambri crushed Argentina's Renzo Olivo in straight sets to move into the final round of the ATP Miami Masters qualifiers but Ramkumar Ramanathan was ousted in the opening round.
Let battle commence, says Djokovic ahead of Nadal showdown
Federer overcame Robin Soderling 7-6, 6-4, and Roddick cruised to a 6-3, 6-4 win over Thomas Johansson at the Thailand Open.
Clay maestro Rafa Nadal was in cruise control in the latest phase of his French Open build-up while Robin Soderling, the man who ended the Spaniard's Roland Garros reign, crashed out of the Madrid Open on Wednesday.
Rafael Nadal proved that when he is fit in body and mind nobody can stop him at the French Open, least of all last year's tormentor Robin Soderling.
Fernando Verdasco's confidence on clay is sky high as long as he does not have to play Rafael Nadal, the Barcelona Open champion said on Sunday.
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