da Londra, Giorgio Spalluto – foto Getty Images
Davydenko/Soderling 2-1 come Danimarca/Svezia 2-2
Troppo facile l’accostamento con il famigerato match dell’Europeo 2004, che costò all’Italia l’eliminazione dalla fase a gironi. Nei panni che furono dell’Italia del Trap (tristemente alla ribalta negli ultimi tempi per un’altra clamorosa ingiustizia, subita dalla sua Irlanda), uno come Novak Djokovic, che italiano sarebbe anche potuto diventarlo se fosse stato naturalizzato in età adolescenziale.
D’altronde, che la partita di questa sera si prestasse ad una marea di sospetti, era facilmente prevedibile. Non si può certo dire che i protagonisti in campo abbiano fatto nulla per fugarli, visto l’andamento del match. La vittoria in 3 set del russo rappresentava per lo svedese la sconfitta più indolore possibile, visto che non gli avrebbe impedito di chiudere il girone al primo posto.
Il tiebreak è il giusto epilogo di un primo set dominato dai servizi (6 turni di battuta a zero, tre a 15), con l’eccezione di soli 2 game: una palla per Davydenko sul 3-3, due per Soderling, sul 4-3. Nel “jeu decisif” un errore di rovescio di Kolya, regala a Soderling il primo minibreak. Lo scandinavo, però, spreca tutto con 3 errori gratuiti che consegnano a Nikolay il primo set (per il russo si tratta del 15° tiebreak vinto sugli ultimi 16 giocati), e rimanda al secondo parziale la speranza di poter chiudere comunque al primo posto il gruppo B.
Come nel primo set, a dettare legge sono i servizi, con una sola palla break nei primi 8 game, appannaggio di Davydenko, ma ben annullata da una signora seconda (185 Km/h) dello svedese. Sul 4-4, il russo, che fino a quel momento ha perso solo cinque punti al servizio, perde a zero la battuta, per quello che è il primo break del match. Impossibile non pensare a un possibile “biscotto”tra i 2 contendenti, con lo svedese che grazie a questo set (vinto 64), può tranquillamente mollare gli ormeggi e lasciarsi portare dolcemente dalla corrente di un terzo set dall’esito fondamentale per tutti, tranne che per lui. Il suo obiettivo è ormai raggiunto: evitare Federer in semifinale contro cui ha un bilancio di 12 sconfitte in altrettanti match. Ancora un break a zero, questa volta in favore del russo, protagonista di una serie di 12 punti di fila (dal 2-2 al 5-2), decide il set finale e condanna definitivamente Djokovic all’eliminazione. Questa la classifica finale:
CLASSIFICA GRUPPO B
match vinti/persi – set vinti/persi
Robin Soderling 2/1 – 5/2
Nikolay Davydenko 2/1 – 5/3
Novak Djokovic 2/1 – 4/3
Rafa Nadal 0/3 – 0/6
Il russo può quindi festeggiare la sua seconda semifinale consecutiva al Master. Affronterà alle 14.15 locali il numero 1 del mondo Roger Federer, contro cui ha perso, analogamente a Soderling, tutti e 12 i precedenti. Gli chiedono se crede davvero di poter sfatare il tabù e lui risponde ironicamente. “Ognuna delle 12 volte in cui sono sceso in campo, credevo di poter vincere. Vi ricordate l’ultima volta al Roland Garros. Ho avuto tanti set point e poi ho perso in tre set. Io e Federer siamo adesso più vecchi. Forse io comincio a giocare meglio e Federer non è così forte come prima. Staremo a vedere”.
Eh già, staremo a vedere anche in quali
condizioni scenderà in campo, visto che avrà a disposizione solo poche
ore per riposarsi, in vista del suo match programmato alle 14.15.
“Non ho sicuramente il tempo necessario per recuperare. Per questo
dovete ringraziare l’ATP. E’ un loro errore”. Non ha peli sulla
lingua Nikolay che giustamente sottolinea uno degli aspetti più controversi
del Master, quello relativo a uno schedule che penalizza in maniera troppo
evidente i giocatori impegnati nell’ultima giornata. Avrà qualche ora
in più di riposo Robin Soderling, esordiente al Master, e 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.
Dall’altra parte della rete, alle 21.45 ci sarà, un Juan Martin Del Potro,
all’esordio in una semifinale del Master e che è parso ritrovare per magia
il suo gioco devastante, nell’ultimo match del girone contro Federer.
Una cosa è certa. Per la 23° volta sulle 36 edizioni disputate con la formula
del round robin, a vincere il Master sarà un giocatore che ha perso un
match nel corso del torneo.
Precedenti:
Federer – Davydenko 12 – 0
2008 Estoril Portugal Clay F Federer,
Roger 7-6(5), 1-2 RET
2007 Tennis Masters Cup China Hard RR Federer, Roger 6-4, 6-3
2007 US Open NY, U.S.A. Hard S Federer, Roger 7-5, 6-1, 7-5
2007 Roland Garros France Clay S Federer, Roger 7-5, 7-6(5), 7-6(7)
2006 US Open NY, U.S.A. Hard S Federer, Roger 6-1, 7-5, 6-4
2006 Australian Open Australia Hard Q Federer, Roger 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(7),
7-6(5)
2005 ATP Masters Series Hamburg Germany Clay S Federer, Roger 6-3, 6-4
2005 Rotterdam The Netherlands Hard Q Federer, Roger 7-5, 7-5
2005 Doha Qatar Hard S Federer, Roger 6-3, 6-4
2004 Athens Olympics Greece Hard R64 Federer, Roger 6-3, 5-7, 6-1
2004 ATP Masters Series Miami FL, U.S.A. Hard R64 Federer, Roger 6-2, 3-6,
7-5
2002 Milan Italy Carpet R16 Federer, Roger 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-5
Soderling – Del Potro 1-1
2009 Auckland New Zealand Hard S Del Potro, Juan Martin 6-4, 6-3
2007 SWE v. ARG WG Qtrs Sweden Carpet RR Soderling, Robin 7-6(4), 7-6(4),
6-4
© 2009 “Il Tennis Italiano” – Tutti i diritti riservati
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THE
MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. It seemed you were concentrated just on winning one set to guarantee the first place, not to face Federer tomorrow. It seemed you stopped fighting in the final set. Is it true?
ROBIN SODERLING: No.
Q. Are you sure?
ROBIN SODERLING: Yes, I’m sure.
Q. They are discussing the round robin system. What is your opinion about that? Is it complicated for the ones that don’t pass? What is your opinion?
ROBIN SODERLING: I think it’s good, you know. It’s only eight players here. I think it’s good for us and it’s good for the fans to see us play, see everyone play, at least three matches. So I think it’s good.
Q. What do you think about your match against Del Potro tomorrow?
ROBIN SODERLING: It’s gonna be a tough match, that’s for sure. He plays really well. You know, he serves big. He’s hitting his forehand very well and plays fast.
So I think I have to play very well to have a chance. For sure I have to play better than today.
Q. What do you remember about the last match against Juan Martin Del Potro and what do you have to do to win tomorrow?
ROBIN SODERLING: I have to serve well. I have to move well. I think I have to do everything well ‘cause he’s a good player. He doesn’t give you many chances. He’s probably very confident now, beating Roger yesterday.
So I have to step it up at least one level from today’s match. But I think I can do it. I played good this whole week. I’ve been playing well the last couple of months. So I think I can play well tomorrow and hopefully I will have a chance.
Q. Can you describe your feelings to be the first Swede in the semis since a long time? Does it prove to yourself that you belong amongst the very top players in the world?
ROBIN SODERLING: Yeah, of course. It’s a great feeling. It gives me a lot of confidence beating world No. 2 and No. 3. I lost today in a close match, which with a little bit of lucky, could have won.
So, of course, it’s a good feeling.
Q. We don’t know that much about yourself outside the competition. Can you tell us about yourself, your hobbies. Looks likes you like watches?
ROBIN SODERLING: I like what, watches? Yeah, I like watches. Can we take it some other time?
Q. After the three tough matches, how are you about your physical shape?
ROBIN SODERLING: It’s good. So far I feel good. Today was maybe the longest match, and I had to run pretty much. But I still feel pretty good, and hopefully I will wake up tomorrow feeling good, as well
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. The beginning of the tournament you said you had breathing problems, didn’t know quite what it was. In the second match you said you had some kind of injury. What was your status today?
NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO: Yes, my injury was after Djokovic because it was tough match. Was have problem against Nadal already in the second set. Then yesterday I didn’t practice. Just make treatment, relax muscle.
Was not injury really. Was like really tight muscle. Really very tight. And I need to get relaxed maybe more in 24 hours. That’s was two days was much better. And today was less pain, and I could run. I run pretty fast. And for sure I need to recovery now. For sure I need to be fit for tomorrow, running much more faster.
Q. Last year you got to the final in Shanghai against Djokovic. Djokovic is out. Do you think it’s fair, the round robin system?
NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO: I really don’t know. You know, if I was not in semifinal, maybe I say different (laughter). I say, Yes, I won two matches, I’m not qualified, it’s bad luck.
But I don’t know really these rules. I don’t realize how these guys doing, you know, these rules. That’s was, is not my mistake. Sorry.
Q. You played Roger many times. You’ve lost many times. Do you really believe that you can win?
NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO: You know, it’s like every 12 times I was coming and believe I can win, yeah (smiling)? It’s not like I coming for the match and say already I’m losing.
Yes, if you remember last in Roland Garros, I have set point, set point, set point, and I lost three sets. That’s was I didn’t know. Maybe something different between me and Federer.
But I know Federer older, I’m also older. Maybe I start to play better and Federer not so good. We’ll see. I play great matches all three now. I would like to play the same way like today, and I hope I can run tomorrow good, fast, and do no mistake.
Q. A question on your tactics. You talked about how you were trying to volley more. You did that successfully today. Is that something you would like to try against Roger, to go to the net more?
NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO: If you see, I didn’t play so much volley today because Soderling play long rally and pretty fast. I have really not so many chance come into the net.
I for sure tomorrow against Federer I have also not so many chance because he try always play forehand, try to do winners, and go by self, you know, play in the net, play volley.
Me always I think I play — tomorrow I should play only baseline and running right-left, and maybe do some tactic change, I don’t know. I don’t know how Murray beat him, you know, many times, like only running right and left and do no mistake, and Federer losing in three sets. We’ll see tomorrow.
Q. You are 18-5 in tiebreaks this year. Very consistent.
NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO: Yeah, was surprising, yes. All tiebreaks what I play last few months I won. Maybe I have very good concentration really just in tiebreak, much more, like hundred percent I want to win and realize I won. It’s just very impressive for me.
Q. What were your thoughts when he missed the easy forehand on match point?
NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO: Yes, I was thinking now deuce, I already need to think about my serve, where I need to serve first serve, and to do no mistake. And then we’ll see. But that’s was maybe, yeah, I was not believe he cannot hitting balls, you know, out because these balls should be in. I don’t know why he do mistake. It’s difficult to say.
Q. What do you think Djokovic thought when he missed that easy forehand?
NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO: Djokovic? He think about, I need to book tickets tomorrow and go to the holiday.
Q. Do you think he’s glad about that or not?
NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO: I don’t know. Ask him.
Q. You have to play your semifinal in 15 hours. Do you think you have enough time to recover physically?
NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO: No, I have no time. But it’s mistake from ATP because these guys doing, you know, time for when is the semifinal, what time need to play. If you see today I play night session and tomorrow at 2:00. All mistake to ATP. It’s obviously there. It’s not my mistake.
That’s was I try. I hope I be fit for tomorrow.
