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  • Davis Cup Preview: David Nalbandian vs. Robin Söderling

    4/13/08 4:47 AM | Cheryl Murray
    - The top two players from each squad clash on Sunday as Robin Söderling and David Nalbandian do battle. Söderling is fighting to keep Sweden alive, Nalbandian is attempting to secure Argentina's spot in the semi-finals.

    Thanks to some inspired play on the part of Robin Söderling in Friday's rubber against Jose Acasuso, Sweden remains alive for Sunday's first reverse singles rubber. Acasuso played a terrible match in front of his home crowd, and Söderling was able to win by the impressive score of 6-0, 6-4, 6-1. Argentina still leads the tie 2-1; David Nalbandian made quick work of Thomas Johansson in the opening rubber, winning in straight sets. On Saturday, Argentina's doubles team of Guillermo Canas and David Nalbandian defeated Jonas Bjorkman and Robert Lindstedt in three tight sets (7-5, 6-4, 6-4).

    When David Nalbandian takes the court for Sunday's first rubber, he will have played 3 days in a row. Unfortunately for Söderling this fact will most likely not stop him from winning. The prospect of playing David Nalbandian at home, on clay, in Davis Cup is almost as daunting a task as facing Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros - he is just too tough.

    Söderling proved on Friday that he has enough patience to make his forehand effective on a clay court - the problem for the Swede is that he will be pitting that forehand against the superb backhand of Nalbandian, which is one of the finest shots in tennis today when it is firing (which it has been). Unless the Argentine is suffering from some inexplicable exhaustion, he should seal the victory for Argentina. It would not be surprising if Söderling stole a set, but in the end, Nalbandian will prove too much. Nalbandian in four.

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