Match report

Robin Söderling © Tennistalk.com
Regions Morgan Keegan Championships
Final
3/2/08 1 2 Tot
se  Robin Söderling 3 6 5 0
be  Steve Darcis 6 7 7 2
Steve Darcis © Tennistalk.com

  • Darcis stuns Soderling in Memphis to win 2nd career title

    3/3/08 3:58 AM | Jonathan Morgan
    Steve Darcis came in as a heavy underdog against a very good indoors player and came away victorious.

    Robin Soderling had come into this match on the heels of a fantastic week in Rotterdam where he reached the finals and lost. He came into this final having not dropped a set, or even a service game in Memphis. His serve stats were out of this world all week, and this was his 7th career ATP final, all 7 indoors.

    Steve Darcis was contesting only his 2nd ATP final, his first on indoors. In fact, this was just his second ATP event indoors. This time last year he was playing in futures and ranked 465 in the world. He got to this final scrapping and clawing his way through several close matches and possible losses.

    I guess that's why they play the games.

    Soderling has long known to be a mental midget when it comes to the big moment, and it showed again here. Soderling looked impatient and nervous as he came out in the first set. Darcis looked stable and in control. Soderling's usual astronomical serving stats were fairly pedestrian, allowing Darcis to take control in the rallies, build the point, and finish it off.

    As the second set dawned, Soderling relaxed. He cranked up his serve and loosened up. The winners flowed easier when he had to, and he didn't face a break point. You know, what he had been doing all week. Unfortunately, Darcis did the same. It was in the tiebreak when Soderling cracked. A 5-3 lead he had with service before he faltered. Darcis was able to get back the mini-break and win the final 4 points in the match with clutch serving and very smart play.

    Darcis takes his 2nd career title here in Memphis and will move from 81 to 46 in the rankings, a career high. Soderling will play in Las Vegas this week to try to continue his great form of play and a 3rd straight week in a final.

  • Thumbs up

    Darcis coming through and winning out of nowhere was a great thing to see.

  • Thumbs down

    Once again, Soderling falters in a big match that he should have won.

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