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10/12/08 2:52 AM | Cheryl Murray
David Nalbandian, current holder of the 2007 Madrid and Paris Masters titles, awaits Robin Söderling in Sunday’s If Stockholm Open final.
Both Söderling and Nalbandian shredded their respective portions of the draw en route to Sunday’s final. Söderling, Swedish native and hometown crowd favorite, has yet to be broken during the tournament. His 6-1, 6-0 thrashing of Kei Nishikori on Saturday was particularly impressive; fatigue should not be an issue.
Nalbandian, the Argentine with the killer backhand, was equally impressive. Every set he has played this week he has won with complete ease. After struggling for most of 2008, Nalbandian has found his form--just in time for the indoor season.
Söderling and Nalbandian have met on five occasions; Nalbandian has won four of them. Söderling’s serve and volley game does not unsettle Nalbandian as it does many other players. Nalbandian's baseline game is too strong and his backhand is so good that it very often leaves his opponent out of position.
Söderling will put up a fight, the crowd will be behind him, and his serve--so long as he serves as he has all week--assures that he will at least have a presence in the match. In the end though, Nalbandian is the better player, playing on his favored surface. The Argentine in three.
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I agree with you Henry, Söderling almost never plays volleys.
Sebastian , 10/12/08 9:52 AM
Soderling does not have a traditional serve/volley game like...say......Taylor Dent, but nor is he a baseliner, as he does tend to sneak in more than your typical baseline grinder. Obviously, the traditional serve and volley of the Borg and Edberg ilk is long gone. Maybe this is serve and volley for the next generation.
cherylmurray , 10/12/08 2:36 PM
Soderling does not have good volleys, but he needs to get into the net just because he can't move around the baseline for more than a few shots per point!
RickyDimon , 10/12/08 3:11 PM
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While I agree with parts if the article I must disagree with some of the main points. The description of Nalbandian's game is accurate, and the fact that Soderling builds much of his game around his hard serve. However, I have seen many recent games of Soderling, and it is clear that he does not use a "serve and volley game" as he plays less volleys than most players. In a recent interview he admits that he and his new coach Magnus Norman are eager to improve his volley game, but that is another matter.
Henry , 10/12/08 8:34 AM