da Londra, Giorgio Spalluto – foto Getty Images
"Nessuno può battermi 6 volte di fila” scherza Robin al termine della seconda clamorosa vittoria di questo suo pazzo Master, cui non avrebbe neanche dovuto partecipare. Nettamente più sorprendente l’esito di questo secondo “upset” rifilato ai danni di quello che alla vigilia era ritenuto il favorito numero 1 del torneo, e che lo aveva battuto in tutti e 5 i precedenti. E come è giusto che sia, per colui che batte in 2 set uno dopo l’altro il numero 2 ed il numero 3 del mondo, in premio c’è l’accesso diretto alle semifinali con una giornata di anticipo. Il nativo di Tibro (unico tra gli 8 a non aver ancora ceduto alcun set) è il primo svedese a raggiungere il penultimo atto del Master dal 1997, quando a riuscirci fu Jonas Bjorkman. L’ultimo connazionale a giocare 3 partite nelle Atp World Tour Finals fu proprio il suo coach, Magnus Norman che nel 2000 perse tutti e 3 i suoi match. “Mi ha detto che si sentiva molto stanco, mentre io sto bene fisicamente, anche se è stato un anno molto lungo”. Probabilmente bluffa un po’ lo svedese che aveva messo a repentaglio la propria qualificazione per un problema al gomito che lo tormenta da questa estate. Adesso si sprecano i paragoni con il successo della Danimarca agli Europei del 92, o con il Wayne Ferreira che nel 1995, da alternate, riuscì a sconfiggere sia Kafelnikov che Sampras, perdendo al tiebreak del 3° con quel Boris Becker che poi si sarebbe aggiudicato il suo 3° Master.
A Soderling tutto ciò non interessa affatto. “Non mi sono mai curato della mia posizione in classifica. Essere qui da numero 1 o da alternate non fa alcuna differenza. L’importante è vincere ogni match”.
Fin troppo ovvia la risposta a chi gli domanda quale giocatore preferirebbe evitare in semifinale. Roger Federer, chi se no? Colui che lo ha battuto in tutti e 12 i precedenti, sbarrandogli la strada negli ultimi 3 tornei dello slam. Per lo svizzero, qualora dovesse chiudere il suo girone al primo posto, si profila un possibile incrocio con uno Djokovic e Nadal che si giocheranno tutto nell’ultima giornata. Non è tagliato fuori ovviamente anche Davydenko che dovrà, però, vincere il match serale per avere qualche chance di qualificazione.
Definire opaca la prestazione odierna del serbo, è qualcosa più che eufemistico, al termine di un match in cui è apparso stanco soprattutto a livello mentale. Le 2 palle break a disposizione di Nole, e svanite nel 4° game, per merito del portentoso servizio del lungagnone svedese (3 ace nel primo gioco), danno fiducia al vichingo che tiene a 0 i successivi 2 turni di battuta e si procura 3 setpoint nel 10° gioco. Il serbo ritrova per magia il servizio e, grazie a 5 prime, porta a casa altrettanti punti. Si giunge così al tiebreak in cui il serbo non concretizza il vantaggio di un minibreak, sul 3-2, finendo per cedere 7 punti a 5. Nel secondo set si assiste alla resa del numero 3 del mondo, parso completamente svuotato dopo la maratona della prima giornata contro Davydenko, in quello che era il 95° incontro della sua interminabile annata.
Soderling si conferma uno specialista nello spezzare le serie vincenti dei suoi avversari. Dopo le 31 vittorie di fila al Roland Garros di Nadal, si arresta a 11 la striscia di successi consecutivi del serbo che in conferenza stampa ha risposto (anche qui si fa dell’eufemismo) ha “monosillabato” pensieri sconnessi del tipo: “Il mio avversario non aveva nulla da perdere”. Beh, tutto si può dire tranne che Soderling non avesse nulla da perdere, dopo la severa lezione inferta a Nadal nel primo match ed una qualificazione a portata di mano. Adesso lo svedese è atteso dall’ostacolo sulla carta meno ostico, visto che Davydenko era l’unico avversario del suo girone contro cui poteva vantare, alla vigilia del torneo, un bilancio positivo (6-3) e che ha battuto recentemente a Parigi Bercy, oltre che agli US Open e al Roland Garros. Peraltro il russo potrebbe già essere matematicamente fuori dai giochi, in caso di sconfitta odierna contro Nadal
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THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Mats Wilander said before the tournament that you were able to be in the semifinals here. How do you feel about that?
ROBIN SODERLING: Well, it’s great. Top eight, top nine guys in the world here. I mean, I won two matches in straight sets against world No. 2 and No. 3. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.
So far I’m enjoying it a lot. But there’s still at least two more matches to go. I hope to do really well in those two, as well.
Q. You coming in as an alternate, not expecting to be here in the first place, is the feeling different to a tournament where you are the top speed or playing at home and there’s a lot of expectations on you? Do you feel your game is reacting differently under those circumstances?
ROBIN SODERLING: No, I wouldn’t say so. I always put a lot of pressure on myself. But I never really cared about the pressure from others. You know, I try to focus on my own game.
But I knew for a pretty long time that I was going to be at least first alternate here, so I prepared as, you know, I was going to play. I went there pretty early on Wednesday already to practice.
You know, I try to take one match at a time. I know I have to play well in every match. And so far I’ve been playing really good. Hopefully I can continue in the same way.
Q. The other day you were asked about Denmark winning the World Cup in 1992. I don’t remember if you said you didn’t remember.
ROBIN SODERLING: I wasn’t very old, but…
Q. You will have to see it now.
ROBIN SODERLING: Well, again, it’s still a long way to go. I heard someone told me I’m already through to the semis. I will focus on my next match before that. Then there’s at least — I mean, I have to win two more matches against great players. I don’t think I’m even halfway through, so…
Q. You’ve had some pretty big results this year. Where would you rate what you’ve achieved at this tournament amongst the results you’ve had in 2009?
ROBIN SODERLING: Oh, it’s tough. It’s different, for sure, you know. I only won two matches so far, but it’s against, as I said, world No. 2 and No. 3. I don’t think I ever done that before, you know, back to back. Except for the Grand Slam, the Grand Slam is the biggest tournament of the year. It’s very good, but there’s still more to come.
Q. If you had to choose one player not to face in the semifinals, who would it be?
ROBIN SODERLING: Who do you think (laughter)? I think the answer is pretty obvious.
But, you know, I played Roger many, many times. For every time he beat me, I think I will get closer to a win, so we’ll see. There’s not much I can do about the results in the other group. So, again, we’ll see.
But it’s going to be tough whoever I play.
Q. In the past when I’ve seen you play, you’ve always seemed quite an emotional person on the court. Occasionally you lose your temper if it doesn’t go well for you. You seem really in control of your emotions for this week, and you have for a number of months. Has something happened specifically the way you approach the game?
ROBIN SODERLING: Yes. At least I try to work a lot on it. But, you know, I said it a lot of times before. My temper has helped me a lot of times in the past. Of course, I lost a lot of matches because of my temper. But it seems like everyone is always talking about the matches I lost, not the matches I won because of my temper.
But, you know, I think I have a little bit of a different approach to everything this year compared to the other years.
Q. You may not remember ’92 in Denmark, but in ’95, Wayne Ferreira came to the ATP Masters as an alternate and he beat Kafelnikov, he beat Sampras, then he lost by an inch three sets to Becker. Did you know that story?
ROBIN SODERLING: No.
Q. He said he was so relaxed. He was almost going hunting in South Africa when he was called at the last minute, went to Frankfurt and played well. Were you relaxed, too? Do you think that helps, that you have nothing to lose, this strange situation, or not?
ROBIN SODERLING: No. Before my first match, I wasn’t very relaxed. I was pretty nervous. For me, doesn’t really matter. You know, I think I told you, before my first match, you know, it doesn’t really matter if I was world No. 1 or first alternate, I still want to win every match. And sometimes I put a little bit too much pressure on myself. I try to work on that.
But, you know, again, I still want to win every match. So for me, doesn’t really matter.
Q. The last Swede to play at least three matches at a season-ending tournament was your coach in 2000. You’ve emulated a few things he achieved in his career. Did he give you advice as to what to expect in this tournament, because it’s unlike any other tournament through the year?
ROBIN SODERLING: No, he told me to see it as any other tournament. You know, he told me when he was here, he was very tired, so he couldn’t really give hundred percent. I feel pretty good physically, even though it’s been a very long year.
But, again, I try to see it as any other tournament. So far it’s been working.
Q. Which facet do you think you improved in your game to make these huge results?
ROBIN SODERLING: Which aspect?
Q. Yes, aspect, the one you improved on most this year to record these results.
ROBIN SODERLING: I think I’m moving a lot better this year compared to last year and the year before. That’s the biggest thing.
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. It’s obviously been a very grueling few weeks for you. Did That rather show up today? Running on empty a little bit, perhaps?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, well, I didn’t enjoy playing today’s match, that’s for sure. He was serving really well. All credit to him.
Q. How tired are you?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Very.
Q. Do you believe you can pick yourself up and be ready for your Nadal match?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don’t know. I will see.
Q. Do you think the late finish you had against Davydenko affected you today?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don’t think so. No, not that much.
Q. Thinking about this year, which do you think you played too much? Was your tournament too much? Which moment of the season was too much for you?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don’t think I played too much. I just played very solid in all the tournaments that I was committed to play.
So I played all the tournaments that I had to play. I played them all.
Q. Is it only fatigue of the year or is it something special today?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It’s just fatigue of the whole year.
Q. It’s something you’ve discussed at length. I know it’s difficult now, but in terms of calendar, you’re in a position of responsibility on the Tour.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don’t know. I prefer not talking about it now, because I don’t feel like.
Q. How well did Soderling play today? Are you surprised how impressively he’s come into this tournament?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, he has nothing to lose. I think it’s his first Masters Cup. He won four straight sets and absolutely deserved to qualify for semifinals. I think he’s the best player so far in the tournament.
