NO.1   Federer withstands Soderling rally, wins thriller
Federer Forehand  </STRONG>     
           federer swings</STRONG>

        Federer and Soderling</STRONG>
Soderling Reacts</STRONG>    
              Soderling Hits</STRONG>

Thursday, September 10, 2009</STRONG>
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For 59 minutes, Robin Soderling appeared to be the latest addition to the "Roger Federer Funhouse." In a rematch of the Roland Garros final, the Swiss moved majestically and stroked stunningly to open a two set lead in under an hour.</STRONG>
After being two points from a straight-set loss, Soderling embarked upon a chaotic comeback effort, pounding serves and crushing forehands to draw within one point of a fifth set. But as he’s done 39 matches in a row at the US Open, Federer reeled in the final rally, winning a thrilling quarterfinal Wednesday, 6-0, 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(6).</STRONG>
Federer will play a record 22nd consecutive Grand Slam semifinal Saturday against No. 4 Novak Djokovic, whom he’s beaten two years in a row in Flushing.</STRONG>
The world No. 1 has now won 28 of 30 sets against Soderling in their 12 career matches, though the Swede surely earned the one he won Thursday.
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“I had dream tennis there for a while in the beginning,” said Federer. “I was able to dominate like I've never done before against him. Then, he started to get better, started to serve better. He got more confidence from the baseline, and then it was more difficult to stay with him. But I'm very happy to have still come through, because it was close.”</STRONG>
Wearing black-and-red from toe to head, Federer never appeared fazed by the swirling wind in Arthur Ashe Stadium. At deuce in the opening game, he glided to retrieve two shots deep in his forehand corner, and then turned defense into offense on his next shot by knocking Soderling off the court with a crisp crosscourt forehand of his own. He’d hold with a service winner down the tee.</STRONG>
Though Soderling made just five unforced errors in the first set, he couldn’t slow down the Federer Express. In opening a 5-0 lead, Federer took Soderling “right into the danger zone,” or at least that’s what the Kenny Loggins song playing during the changeover implied. The world No. 1 clinched the first set by unleashing a down-the-line forehand past Soderling at the net.</STRONG>
“I was quite worried going into the match, seeing how much wind was on the court, that I was actually going to hit the ball good,” said Federer. “Then all of a sudden I'm 6-Love, 1-Love up. I don't know what happened, but it's one of those days where everything kind of goes right for you.”</STRONG>
Soderling fought to stay in the second set, saving four break points in his first three service games. But at 2-3, back-to-back errant forehands cost Soderling his serve, and consequently the set. Federer held for 5-2 with four consecutive winners, punctuated by a drop half-volley from the tips of his Nikes.</STRONG>
In serving for the set at 5-3, Federer unintentionally slammed an overhead into the face of an on-court cameraman. After apologizing to the bloody videographer, Federer showed Soderling no remorse in hitting a 112 mph ace out wide to take a two set lead.</STRONG>
“I'm really impressed by the way he played in the beginning because it was very windy, and still he played very, very good,” said Soderling. “I never played anyone who played that well in windy conditions.”</STRONG>
Though neither player broke serve in the third set, they both had chances. Soderling saved two break points in the first game before Federer fought off a pair in the sixth. Serving to force a tiebreak, Federer withstood a fierce forehand return to hit a half-volley crosscourt backhand winner from the baseline. He held with a crosscourt forehand winner and raced to a 4-0 lead in the tiebreak.</STRONG>
That’s when Soderling channeled the massive shots that helped him upset Rafael Nadal in Paris. He evened the score at 5-5 following three service winners and two forehand winners. Soderling had the set on his racquet at 6-5, but his 132 mph serve was returned by Federer, who then passed the Swede with a smooth crosscourt forehand.</STRONG>
Soderling rebounded with a crosscourt forehand winner of his own to earn a second set point, which he won by painting the far sideline with a forehand that drew a Federer error.</STRONG>
“There's not much more I could do,” said Federer. “I guess I could have taken maybe the first break point opportunity I had in the beginning of the third, and I should bring it home being up 4-Love in the breaker.</STRONG>
“Those are the missed chances I had. You see how quickly tennis can change around if you don't take those. I think he did well to hang in there, because it wasn't easy after what he had to go through in the first two sets.”</STRONG>
What started as a walk in Corona Park, quickly became a complicated affair for Federer. Fans in Arthur Ashe Stadium shouted their support for Soderling in hopes of witnessing a fifth set.</STRONG>
Soderling opened a Love-30 lead on Federer’s serve at 1-1 in the fourth set before Federer hit one of his 16 forehand winners off the outside of the near sideline. At 2-2, Soderling led 15-30 before the Swiss hit a service winner, an ace and a sharply angled backhand winner. Soderling failed to break Federer’s serve a single time, finishing 0-of-5 on break points.</STRONG>
Federer took a 5-4 lead behind three aces in the ninth game. Soderling answered with service winners of 131, 132 and 128 mph to hold for 5-5. After Federer held for 6-5, Soderling plowed a pair of down-the-line groundstrokes to send the Swiss off balance and the fourth set into a tiebreak.</STRONG>
“I was putting a lot of pressure on him from the start of the third set, and it really worked,” said Soderling. “It wasn't as windy at the end of the match as it was in the first two sets, and that helped me. I could serve a little bit better. I could go for my shots a little bit more.”
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With the clock striking midnight, both men’s big serves were at their best. Soderling hit two aces and two service winners in the tiebreaker. Federer hit two aces and a service winner of his own. But when Soderling did get a good look at Federer’s serve, the Swede didn't hesitate at taking huge swings.</STRONG>
Holding a set point at 6-5, Soderling receive  阅读全文>>