PARIS(AP) A year after stopping Rafael Nadal's 31-match winning streak at the French Open, Robin Soderling will try to put an end to Roger Federer's run.
Which would mean more?
I don't know. It depends which tournament, which round, whatever,'' Soderling said with a smile and a shrug.They're No. 1 and 2 in the world. Beating them - it's a great achievement, I think. You have to play your best tennis. It's very difficult, but it's not impossible, which I showed, and which many other players showed in the past.''
Well, yes, Soderling has shown it's not impossible to beat Nadal, even on clay.
He hasn't done the same against Federer on any surface, in any tournament, going 0-12 against the man who owns a record 16 Grand Slam titles.
``Obviously, that's a good record to have,'' Federer noted.
Obviously.
Their last three matchups came at major championships, including Federer's victory over Soderling in the 2009 French Open final.
Their 13th meeting is scheduled for Tuesday's quarterfinals at Roland Garros, after both men won in straight sets Sunday.
The top-seeded Federer beat his pal, protege and 2008 Olympic gold medalist doubles partner, No. 20 Stanislas Wawrinka, 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-2, while No. 5 Soderling advanced with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 victory over No. 10 Marin Cilic of Croatia.
There wasn't a whole lot of intrigue involved in the other two fourth-round men's matches on Sunday's schedule, either. In one, No. 11 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia moved on when No. 8 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France quit because of a right hip injury after losing the first set 6-2.
In the other, No. 15 Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic defeated No. 4 Andy Murray of Britain 6-2, 7-5, 6-3 in a match interrupted in the second set by a rain delay of about 30 minutes. Berdych and Youzhny both reached the French Open quarterfinals for the first time.
It was just slow, wet, damp conditions,'' Murray said.It's exactly the same for the both of us. ... It's just tough conditions to play in, and he played better than me.''
Federer only briefly faced a bit of trouble against Wawrinka, getting broken in the second set and falling behind 4-2. But he broke back to 4-4 and then, at 5-all in the tiebreaker, Wawrinka missed an easy volley, giving Federer a set point.
Federer converted that with a service winner, and Wawrinka mangled his racket by smashing it on the court three times.
The rest wasn't very competitive, and Federer has yet to drop a set in the tournament. Now, if he can beat Soderling again, Federer will extend his record by reaching the semifinals at a 24th straight Grand Slam event.
He's the best player in the world,'' Soderling said.But even against him, you will always get a few chances. Then you have to take them, because he won't give you any second opportunities. You really have to play well in the important points, which he does so well. And that's why he's so good.''
Soderling would know.