Rafael Nadal has only lost to one man at Roland Garros, his final-round opponent on Sunday, Robin Soderling. Reporting from Paris, Peter Bodo answers some questions about the rematch of last year’s fourth round for the French Open title.
Soderling upset Nadal in the fourth round last year, but can he beat Rafael Nadal in a French Open final?
He certainly can. Soderling is an even more dangerous player now than he was then. But I have a feeling that the Tomas Berdych match took quite a bit out of him. It was a war he won, but it was nonetheless a war, and even if you have that critical day off, it's going to take its toll. One of the big factors everyone has been talking about is the weather—they're vacillating here between cloudy and rainy, which would certainly help Soderling for these two reasons:
(1) In damp, chilly conditions, Nadal doesn't get as much bounce on his topspin, which leaves more balls in the 6-foot-4 Soderling's strike zone. Let's remember one critical fact: The guys who give Rafa the hardest time are players over 6 feet tall. In other words, those whose strike zones are up high. Let's also remember that while we may not have the hot, dry conditions Nadal would prefer, it's going to be plenty warm. And when did you last trust the weatherman anyway?
(2) Slow courts give Soderling, who doesn't move nearly well as Nadal (who does?), a split second longer to draw back and tee off on a ball, which is his specialty. They also give him a smidgen more recovery time for a guy who has a lot of stuff to move around, and not the greatest transport system in the game.
Still, when you look at Nadal’s record on clay, especially in this year of rejuvenation, I find it somewhat surprising that so many people are rating Soderling so highly. That he's been in the final before is a mixed blessing. Last year, it was all gravy. This year, he's looking at playing the greatest clay-court player ever (sorry, Bjorn!) on virtually his home court. And who wants to taste the bitter pill of losing twice, in consecutive years, in a Grand Slam final. I think Nadal wins it.
What does each need to do to win the title?
Nadal needs to use that slice serve he's developed effectively, and move Soderling around the court. He has to take charge of rallies, preferably with his forehand. And he needs to avoid getting discouraged if Soderling starts clubbing winners; that's what he is, what he does. Deal with it. Oddly enough, Soderling has the ability to take away one of Nadal’s biggest weapons, his defense. That's because Soderling more or less goes for broke. Nadal also has to adjust his thinking a little bit and not expect to score as freely and heavily on the backhand side as he does with other players.
Soderling needs to serve well and put Nadal under pressure with his delivery—in that sense, a slow court would hurt his cause—and he needs to pull the trigger on those big forehands and backhands. He also needs to keep his feet moving, in order to execute his risky game at an acceptable level. His legs will feel a little heavy, of that I'm pretty sure. And, if he gets into a winning position, he has to be ready to play the way Francesca Schiavone did Saturday. If he doesn't seize the opportunity to win, Nadal will turn the tables. And keep in mind that, even though he made the final last year, Soderling has never been close to winning this, or any other, major.
Bjorn Borg said this week that Soderling could be the No. 1 player in the world. Is that crazy talk?
Well, people also said Schiavone would never win the French Open. Actually, they didn't say that, because it would have been too loopy an idea. But hey, anything is possible. But in this case, it is by no means probable. Let's revisit the question after Soderling shows he can win a major. You have to take Borg's comment for what it is, a transparent effort to pump up a countryman. After all, what's Borg got to lose by saying it?
Four-time Roland Garros champion Nadal has not dropped a set this tournament and is unbeaten on clay this season. (Getty Images)Do the French want Nadal back as their champion, or will they be rooting for Soderling?
I believe the French want to embrace Nadal, but they have a hard time doing so. It's mainly because his game is so effortful, so unlike the games of those "creative" players they tend to idolize—Ilie Nastase, Justine Henin, Gustavo Kuerten. . . . Rafa is lucky, though, that he's in it against a guy who is easier to respect than to love. Given a choice between a lumberjack like Soderling and a still fresh-faced kid from Spain, they'll go with Rafa.
Now that the old Nadal is back, do you see him dominating on grass as well?
I'm one of those people who believe that it takes enormous effort for Nadal to do really well on grass. I don't think his game will ever be ideal for it, and he'll always live and die by his ability to scramble, get out of hopeless situations, and show the courage and heart that he has. His game just isn't suited for grass, and while I'm not surprised by what he's accomplished on the surface, I think the row he has to hoe is much tougher than that of any of his main rivals. I see more potential obstacles in him getting to the semis and finals than to him winning. And even though the grass is markedly slower than it was in the past, his topspin still sits up and begs to be punished more than on any other surface.