Simon Reed

Wilander: Soderling just gets better

Sat Nov 28 02:14PM

Sweden's former Davis Cup captain Mats Wilander gives us the lowdown on compatriot Robin Soderling, the 2009 French Open runner-up and perhaps the least known of the four semi-finalists at the ATP World Tour Finals.

Robin really is getting better and better all the time. He's playing each point the same way and with the same intensity. He's a huge, strapping guy, though he's bigger than Novak Djokovic for example and doesn't move as well.

In terms of physical power he is tremendously strong, much stronger than you think, which is one of the things that sets him apart because he really hits his backhands flat. He also has an unusual serve. He tosses the ball very high, which makes it extremely difficult to read.

He's obviously come on a lot mentally as well in the last few months. He gets less wound up and tries to be positive even when he's not playing so well or when he misses big opportunities, which is a real development in his game.

In tactical terms Magnus Norman has taught him to move up the court and not just stand three metres behind the baseline. He takes short balls a lot earlier now and that means he can impose himself on his opponents.

He's showing a lot more desire to get to the ball and put pressure on the other guy and he's learned that taking the ball earlier gives him much better results, something that's made him mentally stronger too.

He also uses angles much better now and his game at the net has come on a lot too. That said, I think he's still a long way from what he can really achieve. He has got so much room for improvement, which is not the case with someone like Djokovic or Rafael Nadal.

The press didn't hold back on him in the past when there was all that stuff about him being one of the more unpopular players in the locker room. I think he's got things right now, though. He doesn't go out on court to have fun, but he's opened up off it and that's not a surprise to me. I know him well because he played for me in the Davis Cup and I can tell you he's a real competitor and definitely not the kind of guy who stands there saying "well played" to the likes of Roger Federer or Nadal.

I find that attitude a bit tiring and it's something you can only do once. But these guys are pros and they are there to win. He's not overawed by them any more.

He's never going to be the most popular guy in the locker room but he's not bothered about that because he knows he's not going to spend the rest of his life on the tour. He has lots of friends outside the game.

He's there to win as many titles, ATP points and dollars as he can. He's still got four or five years in front of him and I like the way he goes about his business.

The other players can see that he plays hard but fair and he's starting to get respect now because of that. He comes out and says a lot of nice things in the press too.

Comments1 - 12 of 12

Although Wilander might seem biased and, in a way, it may be the case, but Soderling is guy, who really has 2-3 years in front of him to really make a name for himself.
I like how he comes to the net and attacks when a chance presents to him. I certainly can see him doing well in the Slams. I don't think he'll win one, but he is a good player, nonetheless.
From looneer on Sat Nov 28 03:53PM
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well he reached the final of 1 already..and he did it in spectacular fashion...in case he gets there a 2nd time, he wont be that much of a dark horse!!
From scourge_werepire on Sat Nov 28 04:42PM
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This is a little bit like Reed writing about Murray but it is much more eloquent writing and generally more interesting.
From egy_allat on Sat Nov 28 06:42PM
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Indeed nobody take him for a passerby anymore. He will do better with improved movements though. I like his ground strokes.
From paaemma on Sat Nov 28 07:17PM
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whatever he is still a very unlikeable guy and thats a fact.
From rajahralphrajah on Sat Nov 28 09:27PM
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I actually like Soderling but I'm getting tired of Mats Wilander's efforts to promote Soderling as much as possible. He's even managed to have a go at Novak and Rafa in this article. Please,be more objective,Mats!
From cero862000 on Sun Nov 29 12:00AM
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soderling is just lucky this year. after all her never won any title except on home turf. so i'm still not convinced he has what it takes to be at par with the big 5.
From mlbuzmion on Sun Nov 29 01:19AM
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Again Reed writes something and the guy lost. Reed jinxes everything
From wkas3 on Sun Nov 29 03:28AM
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I don't think Wilander meant to be offensive about Rafa and Djokovic - I think he was saying they (younger than Robin) have less room for improvement - that's not a BAD thing when you take it to mean they are alraedy good (rather than they've reach their limit which is not good enough). I think Rafa and Novak can beat anyone on a good day mentally. Despite Rafa's serving problems, he serves well when he puts his mind to it - e.g. Aussie Open and Wimbledon finals against Federer.
From ma_bali on Sun Nov 29 09:50AM
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Wilander sometimes sound stupid------this also sound like he's asked to promote someone from his family---true nepotism!
From m_petuca on Sun Nov 29 01:37PM
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Good Lord, this is even worse than Reed- Murray. Imo, Soderling will NEVER win a Grandslam, but I think we'll see lots of semi final appearances/ a few sparse final appearances in between. Yesterday showed why, in my opinion, there'll always be someone better than him, if its not Federer, it'll be Del Potro, Murray or Djokovic.
From pornster.dotcom on Sun Nov 29 06:04PM
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Well, when Wilander said at the beginning of the ATP Finals that Soderling was so strong having possibilities to go further in the tournaments etc, I though he was overrating Robin because of his being swedish too. But then Soderling proved Mats right reaching the semis after having almost annihilated both Nadal and Djokovic, and playing tough matches both against Davydenko and Del Potro in spite of his loss against them. So maybe he's really that strong... I mean, after his surprising rise at the French Open, he's kept on playing on an high level (he's just lost against Federer in GS, and the Swiss had to play his best tennis to do it), so maybe Soderling's problem was just not having enough self confidence before. I don't think he's going to win any GS in the future, but still he could play other finals or semis and win maybe Masters 1000, he's strong enough to do it as he showed in the second part of this season. I guess we have just to wait for the 2010 season and find out if Soderling is able to stay among the top players or he's just coming back to the numbers of the standard players, it's all a matter of mind-strenght.
Still he's not such a likeable guy, but well, in the end the tour needs "bad guys" too, you know, like the young Hewitt was.
From simondi.filippo on Mon Nov 30 12:49PM
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