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French Open - Quarter-finals - Men

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Nationality Player Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5
SwedenR Soderling666--
Russian FederationN Davydenko131--

Live Comments

  1. - - Thanks for joining us in this match. To follow the conclusion of Dinara Safina's tense match with Victoria Azarenka, click here

  2. - - In the semi finals Soderling will face either Britain's Andy Murray or Fernando Gonzalez of Chile, and the winner of that match will be anxious ahead of facing the Swede in this form! To see the full men's drawsheet at Roland Garros, click here

  3. 6-1 - Staggering stuff from Soderling! The Swede wins in straight sets, finishing with a fearsome ace to seal victory and advance into the semi finals at Roland Garros!

  4. 5-1 - The crowd are almost stunned as Soderling continues his assault on the Davydenko serve, with his momentum unabating. The Russian plays a superb point, dragging his opponent outwide before a backhand winner saves a break point, but Soderling takes the second chance to move to within a game of the match.

  5. 4-1 - Davydenko is powerless to prevent this onslaught from Soderling, and power is the key word. The Swede is simply hammering every shot and keeping his opponent helplessly fighting at the back of the court. He holds to 15 and extends his lead to 4-1.

  6. 3-1 - A stunning backhand winner down the line from Soderling gives him 15-30 on the Davydenko serve, but the Russian cannot stay with his opponent's power. The Swede breaks with another bludgeoned forehand and he takes a commanding position in this third set.

  7. - - This is what Nikolay Davydenko thinks of this afternoon's events, after being forced into yet another error from a Soderling forehand. Click here to see the photo

  8. 2-1 - Soderling takes his 13th forehand winner cross court, and an ace follows as the Swede marches serenely through another service hold to love, with Davydenko looking to the sky in bewilderment at his opponent's exploits.

  9. 1-1 - Davydenko holds after being taken to deuce, but again he is made to work extremely hard for it. Soderling blasts a forehand cross court to take it all the way, but the Russian stays firm to level at 1-1.

  10. 1-0 - Davydenko again throws his arms up in frustration as Soderling plays another sensational point from 30-30, moving to the net to produce a fine volley after a fearsome forehand down the line. The Russian shows good character in taking the game to deuce, but Soderling holds.

  11. - - To view a photo of Soderling executing an exquisite volley in the previous game click here

  12. - - Dinara Safina has staged a comeback on the Philippe Chatrier court against Victoria Azarenka, who has a real fondness for throwing her racquet about. To follow that match click here

  13. 6-3 - Soderling breaks for a second time to take the second set! The Swede is looking unstoppable, and he takes a two-set lead in this match after breaking Davydenko from 30-40.

  14. 5-3 - Soderling for the first time is really tested on his serve in this match, with Davydenko pushing him to an extended deuce and playing with unrelenting intensity. The Swede double faults for a third time in the match at deuce, but recovers to consolidate his break.

  15. 4-3 - Soderling breaks, and no one can argue that it has not been likely to happen! The Swede has tested Davydenko to the limit in each of his opponent's service games, and finally the Russian folds under pressure, finding the net at the crucial moment.

  16. 3-3 - Soderling has his first real aberration of the match, but recovers well to hold at 3-3. The Swede was outmaneouvred in the opening point of the game, before serving a tame double fault. But he then delivered a superb sliced serve outwide to Davydenko's forehand to set himself back on track.

  17. 2-3 - Davydenko holds with hugely impressive resilience. A fierce forehand down the line from Soderling levels at 30-30, before the Swede forces a break point with a powerful forehand. Davydenko recovers with a stunning lob which lands on the baseline, and saves a second with a forehand cross court, and a third with a backhand volley. The Russian closes out the game with real courage and patience.

  18. 2-2 - Soderling holds to love again, and Davydenko shrugs his shoulders very expressively to convey how helpless he feels at the moment. The Swede's serve looks in no danger at all of being breached, showing real conviction and confidence.

  19. 1-2 - Davydenko is beginning to look more settled on his serve, and holds to 15 in an efficient manner. The Russian is competing much better with Soderling, but his opponent continues to have far more power with his groundstrokes.

  20. 1-1 - Soderling could barely look more convincing as he races to 40-0, with only a forehand into the net providing a tiny blemish to another emphatic service hold from the Swede.

  21. 0-1 - Soderling is inspired once as he forces a break point with a fierce backhand winner down the line, but Davydenko forces an extended deuce with a backhand of his own cross court. The Russian then holds his composure admirably to close out the game.

  22. - - In similar fashion, Victoria Azarenka has stormed through the first set of her match with world number one Dinara Safina, who has been in imperious form throughout the tournament. To follow that match, click here

  23. 6-1 - Soderling races through his service game nervelessly to close out the first set 6-1 with consummate ease! The Swede has looked utterly dominant throughout, and his serve continues to be commanding, with Davydenko not getting a sniff of an opportunity.

  24. 5-1 - Davydenko saves himself the ignominy of a first-set 6-0 with a relatively solid service hold to 15. The Russian did nothing he has not done before, playing the percentages in the rallies, but Soderling could not find the inspiration of earlier in the set on his forehand.

  25. 5-0 - Two superb first serves which Davydenko cannot return inside the court give Soderling a third service hold, and a first-set lead of 5-0 - astonishing stuff from the 24-year-old Swede!

  26. 4-0 - Soderling breaks for a second time! Davydenko loses his rhythm on serve, and the Swede is ruthless in attacking it with real venom, lashing powerful forehands to the Russain's backhand.

  27. 3-0 - Soderling continues his sensational start to this first set, recovering from 15-40 in his first service game to leading 3-0. The Swede holds in a much more convincing manner the second time around, finding three fine first serves to consolidate his early break.

  28. 2-0 - Soderling breaks! The Swede is fortunate to move to 15-40 after a horrible bounce left Davydenko swiping at mid-air. The Russian saves the first with a terrific forehand, but finds the net with the second as the Swede takes the first break.

  29. 1-0 - Davydenko races to 0-30 with two precise backhands, and the Russian forces a break point with Soderling starting in very nervy fashion. The Swede saves it with a powerful serve down the T, and holds to settle himself down.

  30. 0-0 - The atmosphere is very tense with this quarter final about to get underway, and the men's draw has really opened up, with all the players sensing a golden opportunity at Roland Garros this year now. Soderling wins the toss and elects to serve.

  31. - - There will be a minutes silence before the players start their warm-up in memory in those involved in the Air France disaster over the weekend, the plane that went down after being hit by lightning.

  32. - - This will be Davydenko's fourth quarter final at the French Open, with the Swede representing the relatively unknown quantity in terms of his consistency. You can follow Dinara Safina's match with Victoria Azarenka on Court Philippe Chatrier, by clicking here

  33. - - Both the 10th-seeded Davydenko and 23rd-seeded Soderling will be eagerly eyeing a place in the semi-finals, where they will face either Andy Murray or Fernando Gonzalez, who are second up on the Philippe Chatrier court. To see the full men's drawsheet at Roland Garros, click here

  34. - - It's another glorious day in Paris, with temperatures of 24 degrees and winds of 16km/h.

  35. - - And if the world number 25 is self-effacing, then the Russian world number 11 is even more so. Click here to see Nikolay Davydenko's profile

  36. - - You have no doubt read a lot about the unassuming Swede over the last two days, but if you would like to look at Robin Soderling's profile, click here

  37. - - Soderling edges the pair's head-to-head record 3-2, including winning on the two occasions they have met on clay, at the Monte Carlo Masters in 2006 and 2007.

  38. - - French Open: Watch the whole tournament LIVE with coverage starting at 10am every day on British Eurosport and Eurosport HD (Sky 410/412, Virgin Media 521); Or watch your choice of courts on your PC via the Eurosport Player. Click here to access the player

  39. - - The big question hanging over Robin Soderling and Nikolay Davydenko's quarter final is whether the Swede can replicate the performance which saw Rafael Nadal crash out in the previous round?

Nikolay Davydenko

Nationality RUS
Date of Birth 02/06/1981
Height 1.77 m
Weight 67 kg

Robin Soderling

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

Comment 17 - 36 of 56

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  1. this is the final demolition...davy but why?

    From jack, on Tue 2 Jun 2:55PM
  2. Soderling is in final nothing can`t stop him! Be­ careful Roger, new Nadal is coming!

    From borenbo, on Tue 2 Jun 2:55PM
  3. this is really an assault on dav

    From jack, on Tue 2 Jun 2:53PM
  4. Davydenko just helpless. Let's have this match over­ it is nothing to look at.

    From risimko, on Tue 2 Jun 2:48PM
  5. another legend down

    From jack, on Tue 2 Jun 2:47PM
  6. c'mon Nikolay!!!!!

    From Zeljko, on Tue 2 Jun 2:39PM
  7. HE WILL FACT

    From tomowencorbett, on Tue 2 Jun 2:33PM
  8. mckeevermarc - agree Nadal was gonna lose sometime, but­ you would think not in round 4, not on his fave­ surface, not when uninjured, and not from a relative­ "nobody" (Soderling was always good but never­ great like he seems to be now! He must have had a­ mental boost from his coach or something). Even when­ Fed went down, it was coz of Mono, he reached semis of­ Aussie open and lost in finals of RG and Wimbledon to a­ worth rival: Nadal. He did not lose important­ tournaments in early rounds. Of course, Federer was­ number one longer than Nadal (but remember Nadal was­ number 2 for a very long time, so if you add them all­ up, Nadal has been in top 2 for almost same time as­ Federer has been).

    Soderling reminds me of Verdasco at­ Aussie Open - beating several good players in a row...­ and although Verdasco is still quite good, he has not­ proven greatness yet, although he has the game for it.

    From Bali, Maha, on Tue 2 Jun 2:30PM
  9. Federer vs. Soderling final ?!

    From Tim, on Tue 2 Jun 2:30PM
  10. Safina needs to win to stay in the game...Otherwise she­ is another top players in the casualty list. I hope she­ could stay in the game and win. Just to prove to the­ whole world that she is deserving to be in the No.1. On­ the other hand, I guess, Soderling will win against­ Davydenko. Nadal is strong compare to Davydenko who is­ almost the same in style of playing so......Soderling­ will win this match....

    From Ray, on Tue 2 Jun 2:29PM
  11. He wont. Fact

    From jenysiss, on Tue 2 Jun 2:21PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Davydenko will win fact

    From tomowencorbett, on Tue 2 Jun 2:07PM
  13. Rafa had to lose sometime did any 1 really think he­ would win every french open give the guy a break just­ like fed losing at wimbledon these players are not­ machines so many good players comin through soderling­ with his win then nearly another shock with haas u cant­ win them all

    From Marc, on Tue 2 Jun 2:03PM
  14. After beating @#$% from Rafa, Soderling must win.

    From Pavel, on Tue 2 Jun 2:01PM
  15. if robin can recreate even 70% of magical play he did­ against rafa then he will be through... rafa is still­ in a state of shock :)

    From shimjithmv, on Tue 2 Jun 1:57PM
  16. i like all russian win be cause they are really strong

    From asal, on Tue 2 Jun 1:55PM
  17. davydenko cant get a look at the soderling serve its­ such huge weapon with top class for hand that generates­ so much pace finding the lines

    From Marc, on Tue 2 Jun 1:53PM
  18. @tomowencorbett .. hihi.. i think we simultaneously­ wrote the same idea :)

    From Ionut M, on Tue 2 Jun 1:46PM
  19. Wow! Robin is doing well! Good luck man! Maybe i was­ wrong and you can beat Murray! C'mon!

    From gione.silva, on Tue 2 Jun 1:44PM
  20. at this level of playing, Soderling looks invincible...­ i just wonder how many more sets can he keep this­ level, because for sure his level will drop ? ... it­ could be one more set and he'll fall to Davydenko,­ or it could be 14 more sets and he'll lift the­ trophy !?! ... just inceredible

    From Ionut M, on Tue 2 Jun 1:42PM
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