Match report

Robin Söderling © Tennistalk.com
Barclays ATP World Tour Finals
Semi final
11/28/09 1 2 3 Tot
se  Robin Söderling 7 3 6 1
ar  Juan Martin Del Potro 6 6 7 2
Juan Martin Del Potro © Tennistalk.com

  • Del Potro squeezes out impressive win, into finals

    11/29/09 12:35 AM | Cheryl Murray
    Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro came from a set down to defeat an in-form Robin Soderling in 3.

    This match featured perhaps the best tennis of the week. Juan Martin Del Potro and Sweden’s Robin Soderling traded blistering groundstokes for two hours. In the end the winner was decided by a couple of points in the tiebreaker.

    Del Potro had chances to go up in the first set – four of them, to be precise. Soderling did not give in and with some impressive clutch serving, the Swede dug his way out of trouble on all four occasions. Del Potro was actually the better player for most of the set – until the tiebreaker.

    The Argentine played an absolutely dismal first-set breaker. He had a couple of shots clip the tape and bounce out and he donated some backhand errors to Soderling’s cause. The Swede was able to hold Del Potro to just 1 point for the lead.

    Both men came out swinging in the second set. Del Potro had started to look a bit clumsy in the tiebreaker, but he righted the ship for the middle frame. The Argentine’s hard work finally paid off at 3-4, when he secured his first service break of the match. Del Potro served out the set easily to level the match at 1 set each.

    The third set showcased arguably the best play of the tournament. Both players hit the cover off the ball for the entire set. They found unbelievable angles and blistering ground strokes. Soderling had a scare in the 5-5 game when he donated a pair of double-faults, but he was able to hold on.

    In a bit of an anti-climax, the deciding-set breaker was completely dominated by Del Potro. The Argentine raced out to a 4-0 lead. Soderling managed to scrape his way to 2-4, he then saved a match point at 2-6. But it wasn’t enough to stave off Del Potro, who will play Davydenko in Sunday’s final.

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Comments

This was disappointing as well, Soderling was 4-2 up in deciding set, his mentally just lacking about 5%. Worked so hard to get it and then just played some mediocre tennis to give it straight back. Annoying. Del Potro did well I guess to come through.

Davydenko did say he wanted to play Del Potro instead of Soderling in the final, he got his wish. 'm guessing the reason for that is because the ice man can rush Delpo and hit angles all day long and make him bend, I expect a Davydenko win, especially after falling short last year, he'll want it bad, and has the opponent he wanted!

eelesino , 11/29/09 12:55 AM


What a heck of a player Delpo is.... if he stays healthy he will be one of the few men to beat next year.

I expect him to win tomorrow.

Emiliano55 , 11/29/09 1:02 AM


Correct me if I wrong...but if Delpo wins tournament, he will take No.4 from Murray... Andy with +400 will have 7030 and Delpo with +1300points = 7285.
Sorry for repeating comment...I gues more people will see it here.

zare , 11/29/09 1:09 AM


Yes del Potro is the heir to the throne. Once he gets in better shape and a little more consistent he'll be virtually unbeatable.

chr18 , 11/29/09 1:19 AM


zare you are right, delpo #4 if he wins wtf.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/djokovic-suffers-the -same-fate-as-murray-in-going-out-1830051.html

posmatrac , 11/29/09 1:19 AM


Yeah, Delpo #4 with a win

and should be #1 at some point in the near future (ie, before the end of 2011)

RickyDimon , 11/29/09 1:58 AM


don't have issue with that but think we'll see novak do that first :)

posmatrac , 11/29/09 2:05 AM


Ahem...Roger and Rafa might also have a say. Not all GS finals and Masters shall be won by Delpo! But I think this kid's amazing and will be a force to reckon with in 2010.

Dana99 , 11/29/09 2:21 AM


go juan marteen!! how very exciting, two excellent tennis players in the final, may the best man win!

stu , 11/29/09 2:33 AM


Delpo will be No.1 very soon....Though a Rafa and Roger fan (in that order), i am damn sure they will not end 2010 as 1 and 2 (in whatever order)...at max one among them will be in the top 2 or it is also very possible that both drop out. They are not playing too badly (at least Roger isint), just that others around have caught up with them (esp.Novak and Delpo)

atul1985 , 11/29/09 1:03 PM



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