Soderling Leads Swedes to Fourth ATP World Team Championship Title
Posted on May 25, 2008
Robin Soderling showed his claycourt chops on Saturday, leading Sweden to its fourth title at the ATP World Team Championship, defeating Russia 2-1. Sweden also won in 1988 (d. USA 2-1), 1991 (d. Yugoslavia 2-1) and 1995 (d. Croatia 2-1). Soderling failed to drop a singles match during the event.
Robert Lindstedt and Soderling clinched the deciding doubles point for Sweden, coming back from a set and a break down to defeat Dmitry Tursunov and Mikhail Youzhny 4-6, 7-6(5), 11-9, saving a championship point.
"It's great, absolutely great," Lindstedt said. "I mean I'm at a loss for words. I had a smash at 7-6 that I should have bounced, but I hit in on the fly and I framed it. I had a huge, huge brain cramp I guess. Then to come back after that big mistake, match point down and to win it again, it's an unbelievable way to finish it, but a great effort from all of us the whole week."
Soderling gave Sweden the lead by defeating Mikhail Youzhny, then Igor Andreev evened it for Russia with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Thomas Johansson, before the Swedes clinched in the doubles.
Soderling is the third player behind John McEnroe in 1984 and Fernando Gonzalez in 2003 to win all singles and doubles matches in the same year.
"It's a great week to peak," Soderling said. "It gives me a lot of confidence for next week in Paris. Hopefully I can continue to play well and hopefully I can win a couple of matches in Paris."
Russia also finished runner-up in 2000 (l. to Slovakia) and 2001 (l. to Australia).
"It was a very close match," Youzhny said. "We are upset for having lost in the final once again. But I'm sure we will back maybe next year to finally win. The crowd was great all week long and we just have to thank the organizers to put such a nice event for the players."
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