With less difficulty than expected, Yokozuna (=Grand Champion) Rafael Nadal retook the French Open crown from the very man who had prevented him from defending it last year: former and future Sekiwake (=Junior Champion I) Robin Soderling.
One year ago Soderling outmuscled Nadal in four sets in a tense 4th round match (only to lose the final to the other Yokozuna, Roger Federer). Thereafter Nadal was out injured for several months thereafter, and then seemed to struggle to return to his former, dominant form, giving rise to worries that his immensely physical game had taken too much of a toll on his body--concerns that should have been laid to rest by his flawless performances at this tournament, during which Nadal did not drop a single set.
In this final, Soderling played on par with Nadal only at the beginning of the second set, when he carved out--but could not convert--several break points. At all other times Nadal had the edge with his more agile, accurate and controlled game.
But even though Soderling fell short in another Roland Garros final, he has established himself as one of the five or six most dangerous contenders behind the Federer/Nadal Yokozuna duopoly. Which means he can set his eyes on higher targets. A semifinal participation at Wimbledon, or another final at the US Open, would earn Soderling an Ozeki (=Champion) promotion at the not-so-tender age of nearly 26 years. This would provide yet more evidence--after Francesca Schiavone's first Grand Slam title at an age of nearly 30--that there is a space for late bloomers in tennis.
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