2010 French Open Semifinal: Robin Soderling Defeats Tomas Berdych, Returns To Roland Garros Final

For the second straight year, Robin Soderling will play for the French Open championship. The big-hitting Swede defeated Tomas Berdych in a five-set match that lastest about 3 1/2 hours.

The two men were evenly matched in the first three sets, with Berdych going up 2 sets to 1 after winning the third, 7-5. But in the fourth, his serve began to fail him, and his first-serve percentage plummeted to about 50%. Soderling was able to take advantage in both the fourth and fifth sets, winning them both 6-3.

This now sets up the potential Soderling-Nadal rematch that was 1b on most tennis fan’s wish list (behind the always desired Nadal-Federer, obviously). The two played an epic match in the 2009 fourth round, which Soderling won. In order for the rematch to happen, Nadal must first get past Jurgen Melzer, who has emerged as the tournament’s Cinderella.