Robin Soderling sent out a strong message yesterday to the rest of the French Open field that he means business in his attempt to match last year’s shock run to the final.
The big-serving Swede had shown no previous pedigree on clay before last year’s tournament, where he became the first man to beat Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros on his way to the final, where he eventually lost to Roger Federer.
The fifth seed started his bid in impressive fashion on the opening day of the French Open, convincingly saw off French player Laurent Recouderc 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 in their first-round match.
The match proved one-sided as Soderling won the first nine games and when Recouderc finally got a game on the board by winning the 10th game, he gave a mock celebration to the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd.
The canter in the French sunshine suited Soderling, who was pleased to have had things so easy.
“It’s always nice to have a quick match in the early rounds,” he said in the post-match press conference.
“I got to hit a few balls. We had a few rallies. So it was a good match.”
The 25-year-old denied that he felt under pressure to match last year’s form in Paris.
He added: “I have to start over again. But of course it’s always nice to come back to a place where you did well last year. It gives you good feelings.”
http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100524/SPORT/705239832/1004
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