French Open Men's Final Preview: Soderling vs. Nadal

When Nadal strode onto Court Philippe Chatrier for his initial pre-Roland Garros practice session, his first sight of the 2010 tournament was the same as his last sight of the 2009 tournament: the gangly, grimacing scorpion from Sweden. For better or for worse, Soderling also will provide the final image of the Spaniard’s tournament this year on Sunday, having advanced to the final along a trajectory eerily similar to his route in 2009. The Greatest Upset Ever remains permanently branded on the brains of even casual spectators, but can Nordic lightning strike twice? Although the Swede followed up his milestone victory with another win over a dispirited Rafa at the year-end-championships, the four-time French Open titlist prevailed resoundingly when they met in Rome just weeks before Roland Garros. Including an infamously ill-tempered five-set clash at 2007 Wimbledon, their head-to-head prior to TGUE (see above) bears little significance, for Soderling built upon that single moment to reinvent his career as a leading contender at the most significant events.

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