Defeat of clay: Nadal knocked out

Rafael Nadal has still never played a five-set match at the French Open,but he is no longer undefeated at Roland Garros.

Rafael Nadal has still never played a five-set match at the French Open,but he is no longer undefeated at Roland Garros. In one of the biggest upsets in the long history of tennis,Nadal,the four-time defending champion who had won 31 straight matches here,was beaten in the fourth round,6-2 6-7 (2) 6-4 7-6 (2) by Robin Soderling of Sweden.

Though Soderling,the 23rd seed,had never reached this stage of a Grand Slam tournament before,he is an established figure on tour whose huge forehand and serve have caused plenty of trouble for the games leading men over the years.

I have to accept with the same calm when I win than when I lose. After four years,I lose here,and the season continues, Nadal told a news conference. Sure,he did well. He did very well but I didnt play my best tennis. I didnt play my tennis,and for that reason I lose. Thats it.

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Defending his Wimbledon title will be Nadals next major goal,but that will come after a little rest and relaxation. Right now,my preparation is for the swimming pool at my house, joked Nadal,who was also trying to become the first man to win five straight French Open titles. Give me three more days.

Costly errors

The Spaniard failed to generate depth consistently on Sunday,which allowed Soderling the space to keep applying pressure. He made errors off the ground from positions where he would normally generate winners or high-bouncing shots to the corners.

But Soderling still had to summon the gumption and the shots to do what no other player had done in the five years since Nadal emerged with his topspin forehand and two-handed backhand. With Nadal down,1-2,in the fourth-set tie-break,Soderling ripped a backhand pass that Nadal could not handle and on the next point,Nadal made an uncharacteristic unforced error with his backhand.

It was 4-1,and it would soon be 6-1 when Nadals forehand pass hit the tape. Nadal would save the first match point he had ever faced at Roland Garros with a forehand winner down the line,but on the next point,he moved forward and pushed a forehand volley just wide.

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Soderling pumped his fist,quickly shook Nadals hand and then the umpires hand,as well. Only then did he show just how much this moment meant to him,running back on court,throwing back his closely cropped head and roaring with delight before tossing his racket into the stands.

I told myself this is just another match, said the Swede. All the time,I was trying to play as if it was a training session. When I was 4-1 up in the tie-break,I started to believe. I tried to keep telling myself I had to believe. I played a great match. If he thinks he plays bad,thats his choice.