'Roger Federer makes you uncomfortable on court', says former ATP star

The ATP has awarded its annual awards and among many new features there was a confirmation that is becoming almost eternal: Roger Federer has been the most loved player by fans for the eighteenth year in a row. Really amazing. Rafael Nadal was awarded the “Sportmanship Award”, the prize for fair play that bears the name of Stefan Edberg. The "Most Improved Player of the Year" was instead awarded to Andrey Rublev, which happens to Matteo Berrettini: the Russian was undoubtedly one of the new names of 2020, and has grown a lot. Nothing to do therefore for Jannik Sinner or even for Riccardo Piatti: Fernando Vicente has in fact been named “Coach of the Year”. It did not go to Lorenzo Musetti but to Carlos Alcaraz the title of “Newcomer of the Year”, the new name that most convinced the other tennis players. Pospisil earned the "Comeback Player of the Year" L. "Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award", which was ultimately awarded to Frances Tiafoe. Robin Soderling lost to Roger Federer in the 2009 French Open final. Having defeated Rafael Nadal Nadal in the quarterfinals, Soderling was regarded highly. But Federer was always a tough challenge for Soderling.

Soderling on facing Roger Federer

"I tried, but mentally was really tough for me and I played my first Grand Slam final everything happened so quickly for me. He was much more experienced. Roger Federer was always the most difficult opponent to play against. Against Roger, it was only a couple of times I felt that I played play well. He makes you uncomfortable on court.” Robin Soderling said in ‘The Functional Tennis Podcast’. But the two met again at the 2010 French Open quarterfinal, and here Soderling finally defeated Federer. The victory not only met that Soderling broke his Federer jinx but also he broke Federer’s streak of 23 consecutive Grand Slam finals. “That was probably my best match in Roland Garros I think I played really well against Rafa but I think I played even better (against Roger). It was a bit lucky also because it was a rainy day heavy conditions.” It is an interesting fact that in 2009, Soderling won against the number one seed, Rafa Nadal, and then lost the final to second seed, Roger Federer. In 2010, on his way to his second successive French Open final, he defeated number one seed, Federer and later lost to second seed, Rafa Nadal in the final.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/37HB62c