Robin Soderling Sets Up Indian Wells Semifinal With Andy Roddick

Photo Credit: Tony Chang/Chang Photography and Andy Kentla

(March 19, 2010) Andy Murray has warmed up for his BNP Paribas Open matches playing soccer tennis with coaching consultant Alex Corretja. Today, Robin Soderling gave Murray the boot.

Continuing his torrid tear through the desert, the sixth-seeded Swede swept Murray, 6-1, 7-6(4) to reach the Indian Wells semifinals for the first time.



Soderling has not surrendered a set en route to his second semifinal in his last three tournaments. Soderling will take on Andy Roddick for a place in Sunday's final. The seventh-seeded American has not permitted a set in his four tournament wins to reach the final four for the fourth time in his last six appearances.

"I hear a lot of those stats of how many times you played in the semi here and there, and it just makes me feel old now," Roddick said. "I'd like to get to the first final and try to win here once.  It's about the only place in the North American swing that I haven't won before, so that would be nice."

Bidding for his first Masters 1000 final since he won the 2006 Cincinnati title, Roddick continued his career-long mastery of Tommy Robredo with a 6-3, 7-5 victory. Roddick raised his record to 11-0 lifetime vs. Robredo. He has not dropped a set in those 11 meetings.

Despite his past dominance of Robredo, Roddick said execution is imperative to continue the streak.

"I mean, you still have to go out and execute. He's still seeded 18 here," Roddick said. "He's beaten a lot of players throughout his career.  He's been in the top 10 or 20 for six, seven years now. You know, what you have to do, but each time you have to go and execute it."

French Open finalist Soderling represents an entirely different set of challenges than Robredo, who essentially does most of his damage with his forehand, fitness and foot speed.

A much more imposing player, Soderling typically takes huge cuts at the ball and hits flatter than Roddick. Soderling is 2-0 lifetime vs. Roddick with both wins coming on indoor hard corut where the Swede is at his best. Three of the four sets they have played have been decided in tie breaks with Soderling winning every set.

"(Against) Soderling you're probably going to be on your heels a lot more," Roddick said. "He takes a lot of it out of your hands. Never played him outdoors, which is probably the better place to play him. He's not fun to play when he gets a clean hit on the ball."

Soderling said since the margins of his wins have been minute break chances will be at a premimum.

"The difference (is) gonna be very small," Soderling said. "You know, you have to stay focused and really play well on the important points.  Because, you know, there's only going to be one or two points against the serve in every tiebreak."



Today's match was devoid of fun for Murray, who was simply overpowered by Soderling's deep drives. Soderling struck 38 winners compared to 17 for Murray , who was forced to play defense for much of the match.

The fourth-seeded Scot's shallow groundstrokes were no match for Soderling's baseline  blasts as Soderling cracked 38 winners compared to 17 for Murray.

"I think he played very well to start with and I didn't," Murray said.  "I didn't move particularly well.  I was hitting the ball really short, and he's obviously got a big game and he was able to dictate all of the points. So from my side it was poor, but he hit the ball really big from the back of the court and served well when he needed to."

Murray had won two of his prior three matches with Soderling, but the pair met today for the first time in four years and Soderling is a much more polished player now than he was when he beat Murray for the first time in the 2006 Memphis quarterfinals.



"I haven't played him for a long time, and he's a lot better player than he was three years ago when I played against him," Murray said.  "I watched him a lot the last year or so; he's been playing a lot better. Like I say, he serves well, hits a big ball.  When he's in a rhythm, you know, he hits the ball real big off both wings, which makes it difficult."

Murray saved a match point at 3-5 in the second set. Soderling served for the match at 5-4 and was two points from the finish line at 30-0, but Murray guessed right on a smash and broke with a backhand winner down the line.

Soderling unloaded on backhand winner downthe line to earn match point at 6-4 in the tie breaker.  Murray put a backhand into the net as Soderling won 11 of the final 15 points to seal a 94-minute win.