Agencies
LONDON, MAY 19
Robin Soderling is sick of being the answer to a favorite quiz question, the one which asks who is the only player to beat nine-times champion Rafael Nadal at the French Open. That is why he will be happy if the Spaniard's current vulnerability on his beloved claycourts continues when the tournament begins at Roland Garros this weekend.
Nadal boasts an incredible 66-1 record at the claycourt grand slam, stretching back to 2005 when he won the title on his debut, the only loss coming against Swede Soderling in 2009.
Soderling went on to reach the final, losing to Switzerland's Roger Federer, and he made the final again a year later when Nadal took his revenge."It says a lot more about Rafa than it does about me," Soderling, in an interview in the Daily Telegraph, said of his unique place in French Open folklore. "It will never happen again, not in 100 years.
"It's good to be the only one, but everybody is asking me about only that match. I am really proud of other things in my career: being in the top five, reaching the final of a grand slam twice. I'm actually even more proud of making it to the French Open final in 2010 than the previous year.
"So maybe it's better if Rafa loses again, then everybody will stop asking me about it."
Soderling's four-set victory remains the only blot on Nadal's French Open copybook, but as he prepares to try to win a record-extending 10th title, many believe his domination may be about to come to an end.
A succession of claycourt defeats in the build-up to the tournament have left world number one Novak Djokovic favorite to claim his first French Open title.
"This year, for the first time in a long time, Rafa is not the favorite," said the 30-year-old Soderling whose career has been stalled by bouts of illness.
"Of course, it's going to be tough to beat Rafa at Roland Garros, over five sets on clay. But I wouldn't be surprised if it happened."
Novak Djokovic dominant, Milos Raonic drops out of top 5
World number 1 Novak Djokovic tightened his grip at the top of the ATP rankings published on Monday after his straight sets Italian Open win over Roger Federer. The Swiss, defeated 6-4, 6-3 by the Serb champ on Sunday, remains second ahead of Scot Andy Murray. Rafael Nadal, knocked out in the quarter-finals in Rome, sits on seventh just behind Canadian Milos Raonic, who dropped two places. As a result Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic and Kei Nishikori of Japan moved up to fourth and fifth place respectively.
ATP rankings on May 18
1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 13,845 pts
2. Roger Federer (SUI) 9,235
3. Andy Murray (GBR) 7,040
4. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 5,230 (+1)
5. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 5,220 (+1)
6. Milos Raonic (CAN) 4,800 (-2)
7. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 4,570
8. David Ferrer (ESP) 4,490
9. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 3,845
10. Marin Cilic (CRO) 3,325
11. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 2,760
12. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 2,280 (+1)
13. Gilles Simon (FRA) 2,255 (-1)
14. Gaël Monfils (FRA) 2,065 (1)
15. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 2,045 (1)
16. Kevin Anderson (RSA) 1,970
17. John Isner (USA) 1,935
18. David Goffin (BEL) 1,835 (+2)
19. Tommy Robredo (ESP) 1,755 (-1)
20. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 1,750 (-1)
21. Richard Gasquet (FRA) 1,625
