Soderling then took the next two points with service winners at 224 km/h and 222 km/h to hold for 5-5.With Federer serving at 30-15 in the next game, the first rain delay arrived, delaying play for 75 minutes. You hope they don’t happen, but they do. permissions/licensing, please go to:PARIS—His French Open reign suddenly over, his record streak of 23 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals done, too, Roger Federer paused briefly as he trudged off court at dusk, acknowledging the fans’ applause with a polite smile and a quick wave.He’s certainly not used to bidding adieu so soon.Bothered by the pouring rain and his big-hitting foe, the top-seeded Federer wasted a lead and plenty of openings Tuesday, succumbing to No. He and partner Nenad Zimonjic, the No. Soderling's next opponent will be No. Berdych, who beat No. 1 ranking if Nadal wins the title.Among the many reasons why Tuesday’s result was so unexpected is that Federer was 12-0 against Soderling, having won 28 of the 30 sets they’d played.So who, exactly, would have thought Soderling could win three sets in a single day?“Even though I lost so many times, I always have a chance to win,” said the 25-year-old Soderling, who’d never been past the third round at a Grand Slam tournament until last year’s French Open. ''.He crossed the threshold after seizing control of the match in the pivotal third set, saving a set point when he won a frantic rally.Soderling charged forward and hit a slam that Federer scrambled to chase down near the backstop, stretching to whip it back, and Soderling leaped to put away an over-the-shoulder backhand volley.The stadium shook with a roar, while Federer wore a grim expression.``That was kind of a hard shot to hit. expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto Roland Garros 2010 simple messieurs : retrouvez le tableau complet avec le calendrier et les résultats de tous les matches sur L'Équipe. 15-seeded Tomas Berdych, a first-time Grand Slam semifinalist and the first player from the Czech Republic to reach the Roland Garros semifinals since 1992. rights reserved. Toronto Star articles, please go to:The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star Federer broke to go up 2-0 in the fourth set, but just when it seemed he was restoring order, just when it seemed Soderling might crack, that momentum stalled.Federer missed three shots to help Soderling break back. 15-seeded Tomas Berdych, a first-time Grand Slam semifinalist and the first player from the Czech Republic to reach the Roland Garros … Playing next. If Soderling’s name sounds familiar, it’s because he stunned four-time champion Rafael Nadal in the French Open’s fourth round last year, before losing to Federer in the final.For the first time in six years, the men’s semifinals at a major tennis tournament will not involve 16-time Grand Slam champion Federer.“They all come to an end at some stage. He hit it well,'' Federer said.Following a rain delay of 75 minutes, Soderling won the set to take the lead for good.Soderling became the first man to beat the defending champion at Roland Garros in back-to-back years since Wilander defeated Yannick Noah in 1984 and Ivan Lendl in 1985.Federer now begins preparations to bid for a seventh title at Wimbledon.``You move on to the grass and forget a little bit,'' he said.
It's much easier to digest this way. 19 Nadia Petrova 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 in an all-Russian quarter-final.But Federer-Soderling rendered anything else going on around the grounds Tuesday a mere afterthought.Federer had a set point at 5-4 in the third, when there was a tremendous exchange. In the semi-finals, Soderling will face Andy Murray’s conqueror, Tomas Berdych, who emphasised the rich form he is in by battering Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 to make it five matches in which he has not dropped a set.Will this have any effect on Federer’s chances at Wimbledon?Almost certainly not, and, while his aura might be ever so slightly reduced, he should still be in prime shape to continue his pursuit of Sampras’s record of seven All England Club titles.This was a rematch of last year’s French final, when Soderling was slightly overawed.
It's much easier to digest this way. 19 Nadia Petrova 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 in an all-Russian quarter-final.But Federer-Soderling rendered anything else going on around the grounds Tuesday a mere afterthought.Federer had a set point at 5-4 in the third, when there was a tremendous exchange. In the semi-finals, Soderling will face Andy Murray’s conqueror, Tomas Berdych, who emphasised the rich form he is in by battering Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 to make it five matches in which he has not dropped a set.Will this have any effect on Federer’s chances at Wimbledon?Almost certainly not, and, while his aura might be ever so slightly reduced, he should still be in prime shape to continue his pursuit of Sampras’s record of seven All England Club titles.This was a rematch of last year’s French final, when Soderling was slightly overawed.