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French Open - Round 4 - Men

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Nationality Player Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5
SwedenR Soderling6667-
SpainR Nadal2746-

Live Comments

  1. - - A great match of tennis. Soderling played brilliantly well and will meet the winner of the Nikolay Davydenko and Fernando Verdasco match. To see action from that match, click here

  2. 6-7 - Nadal saves the first after a long rally, Soderling is enticed to the net and Nadal puts it wide. SODERLING TAKES THE NEXT ONE THOUGH. NADAL'S INCREDIBLE RUN AT ROLAND GARROS IS FINALLY OVER.

  3. 1-6 - Five match points to Soderling

  4. 1-5 - Soderling advances to the net and puts his forehand into the empty space on the change of end.

  5. 1-4 - Nadal loses both on his serve.

  6. 1-2 - Nadal hits another forehand with his frame. Then Nadal's forehand just, just hits the line and he recovers the mini break.

  7. 0-1 - Soderling with an immediate point against the serve.

  8. 6-6 - Nadal works his way to the net but Soderling powers the backhand past him, if only Nadal had played shots like that. Three points later Soderling hits an ace to give him two game points, neither of them are taken though, Nadal with two big forehands saves them. Soderling gets another chance with a forehand which hit the line perfectly. Nadal inspects it and just kicks the spot away, great sportsmanship. Soderling then takes it when Nadal cannot put the ball back in play. TIE BREAK TIME

  9. 6-5 - Nadal hits a forehand right on to the line which Soderling rebounds off of the frame of his racket, that gives him two game points. He just needs the one as Soderling hits a forehand into the net. Soderling now serving to stay in the set.

  10. 5-5 - Soderling hits a double handed back hand long, getting Nadal to within two points of the set. He does not come close though. Soderling again thumps through Nadal's defences, big shots out wide and then more forehand winners, he has hit 30 today.

  11. 5-4 - Nadal holds his serve once more, he seals it by nearly taking Soderling's head off with a big smash down the middle.

  12. 4-4 - Soderling gets to the net for a forehand into the space and that gives him two game points. He loses the first when he puts the ball long, but no the second with a big, big forehand from the middle of the court to the bottom corner.

  13. 4-3 - Soderling puts his return out of play to give the game to Nadal. He holds to 15.

  14. 3-3 - Soderling also holds to love. He sends down a massive 226KM/h serve to set up game point and then plays very well on the point, sealing it with a forehand at the net to sweep the game.

  15. 3-2 - Nadal holds to love.

  16. 2-2 - Soderling's forehand was MASSIVE in that game. Twice from the back of the court he hit the bottom corners with immense power, leaving Nadal motionless. Some serve and volley gave him game point and then a forehand into the empty side of the court sealed the game.

  17. 2-1 - SODERLING BREAKS BACK. Soderling works Nadal's backhand and works his way to the net, Nadal tries to lob him, but it goes wide, giving the Swede three break points. He only needs one. Nadal puts his first serve into the net giving Soderling the chance to come forward for the second. Both players looked to have the advantage during the rally; Nadal was the one who blinked first though, putting the ball long on a forehand.

  18. 2-0 - Three break points for Soderling.

  19. 2-0 - NADAL HAS THE BREAK POINT. Soderling puts a serve wide, the second serve Nadal dominates from the first to get the break point. Soderling then puts the ball long to confirm the break. Nadal turns to Uncle Toni, "Vamos!" He shouts.

  20. 1-0 - Two break points for Soderling.

  21. 1-0 - Nadal holds his serve to start the fourth set.

  22. 4-6 - THIRD SET GOES TO SODERLING. Nadal hits the ball long to give Soderling three set points. And he takes it at the first chance. Soderling hits the baseline with a forehand which Nadal cannot fully dig out and puts it into the net.

  23. 4-5 - Nadal holds, but again he was made to sweat for it. Soderling will now be serving for the third set.

  24. 3-5 - Nadal's pink polo now has a hint of red after he takes a rather funny fall on to the floor, he tried five or six times to save himself but ended up succumbing to gravity. Nadal hits the ball long to give it to Soderling. Nadal is now serving to stay in the set.

  25. 3-4 - SODERLING BREAKS. Soderling's good play is rewarded with two break points. The first is saved when Nadal slams the ball past him with a forehand. The Spaniard cannot do anything with the second one though. Nadal gives Soderling a very wide serve which he returns at an impossible angle to give him the advantage in the point. Soderling works his way to the net and Nadal has to go for the lob, but it goes a long way past the baseline.

  26. 3-3 - Two break points for Soderling.

  27. 3-3 - Top play from Soderling, that was back to his best from the first set, he had Nadal very, very deep and running very wide there.

  28. 3-2 - Soderling was nearly playing in the stands there as he got forced wider and wider by Nadal. Nadal holds to love.

  29. 2-2 - Soderling's drop shot hits the net but just about gets over. There was nothing streaky about the next point, he hits a fierce backhand up the line and then powers a forehand back in the same direction to catch Nadal off balance. Nadal puts the ball into the net two points later. The Swede holds to love.

  30. 2-1 - Soderling points to his head, and screams at his lack of concentration. He was the better player in that game yet only forced to make Nadal hit one winning shot, an ace.

  31. 1-1 - Soderling puts his serve to Nadal's backhand, opening up the court for the winner; he then held it out with an ace. We have just ticked over to the two hour mark.

  32. 1-0 - Nadal holds to love to start the third set. That first set was the first set dropped at Roland Garros since the 2007 final for Nadal.

  33. 7-6 - Not that it matters, he takes the next point. NADAL TAKES THE SECOND SET

  34. 6-2 - Nadal drops both of his service points after the change of ends.

  35. 5-0 - Nadal slams the ball into the net...but it just creeps over.

  36. 2-0 - Nadal has the mini-break.

  37. 6-6 - Soderling peppers Nadal's backhand, and then inches further up the court, even when the forehand side is open he goes to the backhand, clearly this is where he sees a chink in Nadal's armour. He then gets his nose in front at 15-30 with a big forehand down the line which Nadal can only get the frame of his racket to. Nadal plays a perfect drop shot on the next point with Soderling putting the ball just wide on the next...and the one after that. WE ARE GOING TO A TIE BREAK.

  38. 5-6 - Soderling looks to have the point won but slams his forehand from the back of the court into the net. That gives Nadal a break point, a big rally ensues with Soderling taking it with a backhand down the line. He then seals his service with an ace straight down the middle.

  39. 5-5 - Break point Nadal

  40. 5-5 - Soderling looks to have won the first point, but Nadal points out that the ball had gone out one shot earlier. Three points later Nadal plays the ball into the net giving Soderling the break point. Soderling approached the net, Nadal tried to fire the ball past him with a backhand and very nearly succeeds. Soderling sticks out his right arm, spinning 90 degrees in the air and with very soft hands drops the ball over the net. WE ARE BACK ON SERVE.

  41. 5-4 - Break point Soderling.

  42. 5-4 - Well played Soderling, having set up Nadal for the big serve to the backhand all day, he hits one straight down the middle to seal the game 40-15. Nadal is now serving for the second set.

  43. 5-3 - There is the first 180 degrees spin with fist pump of the day from Nadal! Soderling pushed him left and right behind the baseline and then played a poor drop shot at the net, it sat up perfectly for Nadal who easily put the ball away. Soderling now serving to stay in the set.

  44. 4-3 - Soderling holds to 15. For the first three points he again has Nadal on the run, hitting big serves and forehands wide to force Nadal to go for the big shot. The next point shows just why Soderling needs to keep doing this, Nadal progresses past the baseline for the first time in the game and can easily pick off Soderling from there.

  45. 4-2 - Soderling hits his forehand long and that seals Nadal's service game.

  46. 3-2 - As the players sit down a ball girl runs on the court with a new racket and a bunch of bananas for Rafa. He accepts the racket, leaving the girl looking rather awkward holding the bananas; she looks around sheepishly before a fellow bellboy runs up and takes the fruit off of her. He then peals a banana for Nadal. We can only presume that, despite an army of sport scientists and coaches, this boy is the only person in Paris who Nadal trusts with his potassium levels.

  47. 3-2 - A big hold for Soderling, he was 40-0 up and then faced a break point. He held on though, sealing it with an ace.

  48. 3-1 - Nadal cements the break. Roles were being reversed there; Soderling was the man on the chase as Nadal hit the lines on either side. He holds to 30.

  49. 2-1 - NADAL HAS THE BREAK. Facing the break point, Soderling has Nadal on the run once more; Nadal hits a forehand from the back of the court, just digging it out. Soderling at the net cannot quite dink it over the net. Is regular service resuming?

  50. 1-1 - Nadal holds, but it was by no means easy, there were some big rallies there which Soderling won, Nadal just does not lose those points. The longest went 25 shots before Nadal put the ball into the net.

  51. 0-1 - Soderling holds to love. Nadal leaves a ball mid court which Soderling whips a forehand at and the ball hits the baseline perfectly, he then sends down a big ace. Soderling is on the top of his game.

  52. 2-6 - NADAL IS BROEKN AGAIN AND THAT IS FIRST SET TO SODERLING. Nadal has game point but double faults. On the next point Nadal puts a backhand wide to give Soderling a set point. The Swede again moves Nadal left and right as he moves in, not that he needs to, Nadal puts the ball into the net.

  53. 2-5 - Soderling holds once more and his strategy is working well. He has been hitting the lines perfectly on both sides, forcing Nadal to go back and forth. Soderling has to keep his concentration though, he has to remember that against Nadal, no point is ever over, the Spaniard never gives up.

  54. 2-4 - Soderling puts the ball into the net and that seals the hold of serve for Nadal.

  55. 1-4 - Soderling is playing very well. He is sending his serves out very wide which Nadal is having problems putting back in play. When he does, Soderling is already in position to begin to dominate the points. The Swede holds.

  56. 1-3 - SODERLING TAKES THE BREAK. Soderling dominated the points there. Nadal was consistently camped out a good four yards behind the baseline while the Swede edged further forward for the kill. Nadal was able to save two points with some impossible winners from the back of the court. But on break point he put the ball just long.

  57. 1-2 - Soderling has game point but Nadal gets him on the run, eventually taking the point with a cross court backhand to send it to deuce. Then Soderling has Nadal chasing, he pushes the Spaniard out wide with his serve and then puts away the ball on the return. We remain on serve.

  58. 1-1 - Nadal also gets the hold. He begins with a whipped forehand winner and finishes with an ace and then a serve which Soderling can only put into the stands.

  59. 0-1 - Soderling holds easily.

  60. - - Nadal leads the head to head record between these two players, 3-0. They last exactly a month ago in Rome. Nadal took that contest 6-1, 6-0.

  61. - - Soderling on the other hand likes wearing white.

  62. - - Click here to see photos of Nadal's pink top.

  63. - - Remember, you can watch your choice of courts on your PC via the Eurosport Player. Click here for more information.

  64. - - Hello and welcome to a beautiful day at Roland Garros. We are on the Philippe-Chartier court for the encounter between Rafael Nadal and Robin Soderling.

Rafael Nadal

Nationality ESP
Date of Birth 03/06/1986
Height 1.85 m
Weight 85 kg

Robin Soderling

Nationality SWE
Date of Birth 14/08/1984
Height 1.91 m
Weight 81 kg

Comment 348 - 367 of 387

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  1. So...Zika D says the tennis calendar should be changed.­ Why? Oh, so the top players will win. Hmmnn.. I see.­ So, it's not good for the world too see brilliant­ playing, such as Soderling's today. I mean, you­ know, the guy had no right to outplay another great­ player. So, Djokovic and Nadal should not have to­ endure the same calendar as other players because they­ can't win that way. That's not justice, Zika,­ that's insanity! Nadal can relax now. He should­ know how Fed feels at having lost his fifth win at­ Wimbledon. Now, we can all relax and turn our eyes to­ the truth. Tennis is a game, and in this time, we are­ blessed with so many remarkable talents. The majority­ of Comments daily are not about tennis; they would fit­ better in the Boxing sport...blood interests. Well,­ today, you guys got your blood. Doesn't feel too­ good tyo have to make assinine excuses for your hero­ when the truth is that he was outplayed..no fluke, just­ great, great tennis from a fine player who somehow­ survived the same calendar that apparently defeat both­ Djokovic and Nadal.

    From Hatsutking, on Sun 31 May 5:30PM

  2. The Nadal loss is the equivalent of the shot heard­ round the world! After pouring through those several­ hundred comments its good to know that there were­ others that
    felt like me about finally seeing the beast­ slayed on his favortie surface. I like
    many others knew­ it could happen but did we think it would happen? My­ only regret is
    that my boy Roger didn't have the­ honors of taking away the RG trophy. I guess­ Rafa,
    you'll be chewing on something else a week­ from now,huh? Never could quite understand
    that­ practice of chewing on the prize. What's up with­ that? Try an energy bar or something if you're­ hungry! Also, I curious to see what happened after the­ match, supposedly there was an incident with a­ camerman??? I'll be looking intently when the match­ is aired on NBC later today. Reminds me of Bill­ Bellick after SB two years agao when he shoved a­ camerman. I guess Rafa is not as gracious of a loser as­ we thought. I found those steroids comments interesting­ and not the first time I've heard them. As a Fed­ fan, I'm elated now that the path has been­ cleared
    substantially but there is still AM who is­ playing fantastic and has not lost a set I don't­ think. Again getting back to the Nadal upset, it is a­ day I won't forget, its not exactly when I wanted­ it or against the right player (Roger Federer) but­ I'll take it!!!!!!!!!!

    ­ Philippe Igoa
    ­ ­ Bakersfield

    From philippe i, on Sun 31 May 5:28PM

  3. boow...You get this too personal...I love watching­ tennis and I appreciate the good players.I don't­ think that if you are,let's say, a Federer fan you­ have to write stupid comments like"Rafa­ out...live can be good..." and so on...I like­ Federer more than Nadal but I have to admitt that both­ are great players and I wanted to see them both in the­ final..

    From adryana, on Sun 31 May 5:26PM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    NNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO­ OOOOOO

    From a.roszkowski, on Sun 31 May 5:25PM

  5. Shame on some Federer fans for being classless. i am a­ federer Fan too coz i was long before Rafa came ino the­ picture.Now I´m a Rafa fan more coz aside from being a­ great champion i love his humble , down to earth­ attitude. I respect Federer just like Rafa does, and a­ lot of Rafa fans do, too. That is how to be a real fan,­ with class. Rafa does not deserve all this hate.He was­ just doing his job , just as Federer did his for 4++­ years.

    From tennis fan, on Sun 31 May 5:25PM

  6. Seems like Soderling had been on the cusp of ­ breakthrough for a long time... Very happy for him. ­ And yes, this may be the boost Fed's fragile psyche­ needs to finally get over the Roland Garros hump?

    From david l, on Sun 31 May 5:22PM

  7. Wow.....I can't believe Nadal lost. But give­ credit to Robin, he played incredibly well. Just shows­ that anyone can get beat at anytime. So....does this­ leave the door open for my favorite player Roger­ Federer. I would love to see him win at the French.­ And you never know what can happen down the line. This­ loss could leave Nadal more motivated to win the US­ Open and Wimbledon. What a great sport. Don't­ hate on Nadal. He is number 1 in the world. :-)

    From M L U, on Sun 31 May 5:22PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    This shows how desperate u where:

    -rafa...king of­ doping out
    -finally, the fat lady can sing
    -nadal not a­ true player because he argued with the cameraman or­ who????

    = u people are a joke...these are tru signs­ that u play verry little or no tennis, but like to­ comment what u don`t know aboute.

    Nadal didn`t play­ his best and was clearly under pressure, Soderling had­ a performance like never before and had a strong­ mentality, combined Nadal lost, S. won.

    Cut the­ cra*p...and start behaving like somebody with a bit of­ brain.

    From xaba_x, on Sun 31 May 5:21PM

  9. for those that could not see the match, the truth is­ simple : Soderling played a very solid game and won­ fair and square .. Rafa looked all season below his par­ and finally he payed the price :( ... i'm sed, but­ this is the beauty of the sport, in the end :) ... now­ let's see Rafa haters writing trash, as they always­ do, instead of aknowledging Robin's merits.. such a­ pitty :(

    From Ionut M, on Sun 31 May 5:21PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Well well Nadal lovers, who taught he is invincible and­ keep on yapping idiocies about Fed, what should we say­ now? Roger winning ar RG, imposible? Go to sleep you­ fuukers who alwayz taked bulschiit at Fed's adress.­ I'm not gonna say bad things about Nadal, he­ dosen't deserve it, he is a great player.
    Both he­ and Federer equaled Sampras respective Borg's­ records but couldn't surpass it. there is still­ time notherrheless.

    It is bit to early to speak but­ if Federer wins this one he compleats his Grand Slam,­ his Sampras-equalling grand slam wins and has the edge­ of winning on clay which means he is officialy the best­ tennis player ever, something we the extravagant Mr­ peRFect way of tennis lovers, already new since long­ time now.

    From Johnny D, on Sun 31 May 5:20PM

  11. It's Roger's best chance of winning the French­ Open!!! Hope he finally makes it! Congrats to Soderling

    From Momchil, on Sun 31 May 5:20PM

  12. next five years again RAFA,i know you can do it!!!­ 5 peat!!!!!!

    From arvinc, on Sun 31 May 5:19PM

  13. TENIS IS A SPORT FOR REAL PEOPLE. THAT PLAYS IT. SHARE­ IT ENJOY IT AND AND (LOCK OF IGNORANCE) AND DONT­ DISTURB THE PLAYERS OR THE TRU FANS WHILE A MATCH IS­ BEEN PLAYED THE BEST PLAYER WILL WIN THEY ARE ALL­ PROFESIONALS CONGRATULATIONS MR SORDELING i WISH HIM TO­ PLAY LIKE NUMERO UNO AT THE FINNALLY GOD BLESS YOU

    From LUIS C, on Sun 31 May 5:18PM

  14. UP ROGER....NOW OR NEVER....ROGER FANS PLZ SUPPORT WITH­ PRAYER FOR THE REAL KING TO BE CROWN AGAIN

    From Conrad, on Sun 31 May 5:18PM

  15. Nadal put a lot of pressure on himself to win this one­ and make history. When he lost to Federer on clay just­ before the French, you could see the pressure he was­ putting on himself. A side of Nadal, I didn't see­ before. Nadal has a long ways to go and will­ eventually be the top player statistically in history. ­ His is playing every point so hard in every game, I­ hope he doesn't blow a fuse or get injured. Now­ that Nadal is out of the French, we shall see where the­ chips fall. Federer has been struggling, but will need­ to significantly pick up his play going forward. With­ Federer's unforced errors problem, nobody knows­ what Federer will show up. Some excellent competitors­ remain in the French-all have beaten each other in the­ Majors. For Federer, if he wants to tie Sampras Slam­ wins, this is a ripe opportunity. I cannot imagine all­ the head games he would have to play to convince­ himself he can beat the record if he loses now. He now­ must concentrate on doing what Champions do best and­ start a win streak of his own. For Federer, the French­ here would be a prize that would satisfy a lot of­ career goals all at once. If he takes his eye off the­ ball here, there may never be an opportunity this clean­ for a while-his competitors continue to improve and­ move closer or better to his equal

    From Jules, on Sun 31 May 5:18PM

  16. Wow, even Federer fans shouldn't be THAT happy.­ Federer-Nadal finals are epic tennis matches. Anybody­ who loves tennis should be heartbroken that Nadal lost.­ Dont show off your love of federer when you dont love­ tennis.

    From Me, on Sun 31 May 5:18PM

  17. I do not think it happen. It could not happen. Rolland­ Garros equals Nadal. The natural balance in Paris has­ been broken. Just like Federer at Wimbledon. I still­ think it is a bad dream. Very bad dream.

    From sailor moon, on Sun 31 May 5:16PM

  18. Someting is wrong with Soderling. Should he be tested­ for doping? It`s is not normal the way Soderling plays.­ You are always talking about how Nadal plays what­ about Soderling??????

    From bergvallgleide, on Sun 31 May 5:16PM

  19. I make minty fav now Nats gone. Come on my son.

    From B, on Sun 31 May 5:16PM

  20. Nadal may have lost bu there are other guys still out­ there who's got the chance. Wont be automatic for­ Federer yet. So dont you guys celebrate.

    From Vince, on Sun 31 May 5:15PM
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