French Open
Venue: Roland Garros, Paris Date: 23 May-6 June
Coverage: Live video streamed from 1000 BST on BBC Sport website (UK only) and BBC red button; commentary on BBC 5 live sports extra; also live on Eurosport; text commentary on BBC Sport website
Details of BBC coverage
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By Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros |
Robin Soderling produced a stunning upset for the second year running at the French Open as he defeated world number one and reigning champion Roger Federer in the quarter-finals.
The 25-year-old Swede gained revenge for defeat in last year's final with a 3-6 6-3 7-5 6-4 win that ends Federer's incredible run of 23 consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals.
It also opens up the possibility that, should Rafael Nadal win the title, the Swiss will lose the top ranking just a week before equalling Pete Sampras's record of 286 weeks at number one.
For Soderling, it gives further proof that his shock defeat of Nadal at Roland Garros last year was anything but a flash in the pan.
He had been expected to provide Federer with his first serious test of the tournament but a head-to-head record of 0-12 suggested Soderling might again find the Swiss a challenge he just could not overcome.
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606: DEBATE
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Federer came out in blistering form as he dominated the opening set, dropping just two points on serve and converting his fourth break point in game eight as he swept through it in 32 minutes.
When Federer earned his fifth break point of the day at the start of the second set, it seemed that the contest might be as good as done within 40 minutes.
However, the first serve that had abandoned Soderling for much of the first set returned just in time as he sent down a heavy delivery to see off the danger and change the momentum of the match.
A couple of missed first serves in game two were punished by Soderling with fierce returns and at 30-40 Federer mis-hit a backhand to give the fifth seed an unexpected 2-0 lead.
For the next hour, serve held sway, with neither man facing a break point and the only moment of real drama came when Soderling missed his first two set points with nervous errors, before Federer netted a backhand on the third.
The third set progressed at a rapid pace with the tension ratcheting up a notch as each game passed, and Federer had the first chance but could not capitalise on a set point in game 10.
Soderling won a stunning rally, moving in to hit a smash only for Federer to anticipate it and throw up a devilish sliced lob that the Swede did brilliantly to reach, let alone flick away a winning backhand smash.
When the heavens finally opened above Court Philippe Chatrier moments later, after threatening all day, the tie was in the balance with Federer serving at 6-3 3-6 5-5 (30-15).
A little over an hour later the players returned to a cold and gloomy arena and Federer made a dreadful mess of the restart, letting a 40-15 lead slip with two poor forehands and a double-fault before Soderling cracked away a forehand on break point.
It was a huge breakthrough for the fifth seed and he took full advantage by firing down an ace on his second set point to move into the lead for the first time.
Federer was on the brink, but he twice came back from two sets down on the way to winning in Paris last year and, when he broke Soderling to lead 2-0 in the fourth, the chants of "Roger, Roger" that rang around the stadium suggested the home fans were expecting another comeback.
The Swiss just could not rediscover his early form, however, and three more errors handed the break straight back, giving Soderling just the confidence boost he needed as another landmark victory now loomed.
A three-minute rain break midway through the set might have given Federer hope of an overnight delay but it was not to be, Soderling seeing three break points slip by in game seven before the pressure told as he broke for 5-3.
The Swede had a first ever win over Federer in his sights and he served out nervelessly to set up a semi-final against Tomas Berdych, who thrashed Mikhail Youzhny 6-3 6-1 6-2 on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
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