Robin Soderling v Roger Federer
Tennis: US Open Quarter Final
Wednesday 8 September 2010

This game is live on TV

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Preview

The final Grand Slam of the tennis season has reached its business point as the Quarter Finals begin during the last few days. It has been a mix and match tournament in the Men's section, with many of the seeded players falling early, although we should still see 8 top players in action. This match has to be the pick of the round.

Robin Soderling made his breakthrough on the big stage when he reached the Final of the French Open in 2009, becoming the first man to beat Rafael Nadal in that tournament along the way. If people saw that as a bit of a fluke, he once again finished as Runner Up at that tournament this year, beating Roger Federer in the Quarter Finals along the way, the first time Federer had lost before the Semi Final stage of a Grand Slam in 24 attempts.

The Swedes game translates well onto the hard courts and he has compiled a 38-17 record on this surface over the last 2 seasons. Soderling struggled a little bit in the Masters tournaments leading up to this event in Toronto and Cincinnati, but he did reach the Semi Finals at both Indian Wells and Miami earlier this year.

Soderling had to get through a 5 setter in the opening round at this years tournament, but has looked very comfortable in only dropping 1 set in the next 3 rounds. A win here would also see him advance to Number 4 in the World Rankings above Andy Murray.

Roger Federer has had a poor Grand Slam season compared with his usual extremely high standards with Quarter Final exits at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon after winning the Australian Open earlier this season. It was the first time in 6 years that he had exited Grand Slam tournaments so early, but he will feel confident in his present climate where he has won 5 times and finished Runner Up last season. Federer also indicated that injuries had contributed to his early defeats in the last 2 Majors, and also claims he is 100% here.

The World Number 2 plays some of his best tennis on the hard courts, compiling a 60-11 record over the last 2 seasons. He has already won in Australia and has found some real form on the North American hardcourts as indicated with his Runner Up finish in Toronto and winning in Cincinnati prior to this tournament.

Progress has been as straightforward as they come for Federer so far this tournament, winning all 4 matches in straight sets and only being pushed to 1 tie break in his 12 set wins. This is clearly going to be the hardest test he has faced so far and is prospectively having to beat Soderling, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal to pick up the tournament, so his hard work really begins from here.

Head to Head

Robin Soderling had lost 12 matches in a row to Federer before beating him twice this year, albeit once in an exhibition tournament before the new season began.

Federer had beaten the Swede in 3 of the last 4 Grand Slams prior to the meeting in Paris this season that Soderling came through in 4 sets.

Surprising they have only met 4 times on hard courts, and Federer leads 3-1 in the head to head. The Swiss superstar may also hold the psychological edge after beating Soderling in 4 sets in this tournament at the same stage 12 months ago.

Prediction

Robin Soderling has all the tools to cause all of the guys in tennis a real problem. He has the big serve, hits almighty groundstrokes off both wings and more importantly of all, seems to have strengthened mentally from previous years. He also seems confident claiming all the guys in the top 10 can beat Federer.

Roger Federer also understands that this will not be a walk in the park and is all too aware that he must focus at all times. The Fed Express has been known to lose a few sets this season when his concentration lapses slightly and there is a real danger that he will lose his first set of this tournament.

This should be a brilliant tennis match and it is one I am really looking forward to. The odds I have seen for a Federer win are disgraceful in some places, showing Soderling little or no respect. I cannot tip Federer to win at those prices, although I believe he will, and instead will focus on the set betting.

I truly feel Soderling has a big enough game to threaten Federer here and will take a set off the Swiss star. Whether he has enough to do more is up for debate on these courts, so I will take Federer to come through in 4 sets

The Pick :

Roger Federer 6-3, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Roger Federer win 3-1 in Sets