Will Robin Soderling Upset Rafael Nadal Once More at the French Open?

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No doubt both (5) Robin Soderling and (1)Rafael Nadal are on edge about their quarterfinal match tomorrow on Court Phillippe Chatrier at the 2011 French Open.

While Soderling appears to be getting stronger match by match, Nadal has admitted in his press conferences that he feels his own play so far in French Open is not good enough for the five-time champion to come away with win number six.

Tomorrow, we should know the truth, not only of Nadal’s self-assessment, but of Soderling’s ability to put the man from Majorca down for the second time.

To date, the Swede is the only man ever to defeat Rafael Nadal on the grounds of Stade Roland Garros. Soderling defeated Nadal in the fourth round of the 2009 French Open as the World No. 1 was on his way to winning his fifth consecutive French Open title.

Instead, the Majorcan was sent home, soon to lose his No. 1 ranking to Roger Federer who won the French Open in 2009 and then went on to take back the Wimbledon title a month later in July.

Nadal holds a 5-2 advantage in their head-to-head meetings. But Soderling is always dangerous, especially at the French Open where his power seems to do the most damage.

In both 2009 and 2010 Soderling has been a finalist. The third time, Soderling is hoping, will the charm––to allow the Swede to win his first grand slam trophy.

Nadal will be seeking to win his sixth French Open title which will tie him with another clay court great, the Swede Bjorn Borg.

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