Robin Soderling, who handed Rafael Nadal his only loss at Roland Garros in 2009, says people still constantly ask him about the match. The now nine-time French Open champion lost in the fourth round to the Swede in four sets. 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-4, 7-6 (2).
“It says a lot more about Rafa than it does about me,” Soderling told the British press. "It will never happen again, not in 100 years. It's good to be the only one, but everybody is asking me about only that match. I am really proud of other things in my career: Being in the Top 5, reaching the final of a Grand Slam twice. I'm actually even more proud of making it to the French Open final in 2010 than the previous year.
“So maybe it's better if Rafa loses again, then everybody will stop asking me about it.”
The now 30-year-old Soderling has not played since 2011, when he developed mononucleosis. The former No. 4 believes that Novak Djokovic can win the French Open for the first time, but Nadal won’t go away quietly. “This year, for the first time in a long time, Rafa is not the favorite,” said Soderling. “Of course, it's going to be tough to beat Rafa at Roland Garros, over five sets on clay. But I wouldn't be surprised if it happened.”
For more 2015 French Open coverage, go to our tournament page:
