Robin Soderling Shocked by Rising Star Dolgopolov in Five Setter

He was one of the most in-form players coming into Melbourne Park.

Robin Soderling.

The big Swede with the huge serve and even bigger groundstrokes was dumped unceremoniously from Melbourne Park by talented 22 year-old, Alexander Dolgopolov.

The reversal of fortunes between the two players was stunning.

Soderling, who had not even lost a set from the start of the year, looked certain to continue on to a predicted quarterfinal clash with Andy Roddick

Soderling, who had just come of a win over Andy Roddick in Brisbane, looked in control in the first set, overwhelming Dolgopolov 6-1, and he looked to continue his nine match winning streak this year.

He was hitting balls so heavy and so hard that Dolgopolov was having trouble dealing with the power of Soderling’s balls.

Dolgopolov’s serve failed him in the first, but tennis’ rising shotmaker and playmaker was not about to give up.

In the second set, the boy from Kiev took the set with a few uncharacteristic errors from Soderling and throwing in a few worthy additions to the highlight reel, he took the second 6-3. He then powered through the next set 6-1.

Soderling extended the match by temporarily upping the ante in the fourth to win 6-3. But in the fifth, Dolgopolv continued to remain consistent in front of a Robin Soderling shank-fest from the forehand.

Every single ball from his racquet seemed to either hit the net or be long or wide, and the Swede expressed his frustration with an almighty scream.

At 5-3, after saving a few match points, Soderling finally netted yet another forehand, to give Dolgopolov the match.

It was extremely disappointing for the Swede, who was touted as a big contender for the Australian Open, but leaves, once again, dissatisfied with his sub-par results.

Andy Murray would be extremely relieved at his departure.

While Dolgopolov played well, he was helped by the fact that Soderling was shaky at best, shanking routine forehands, and the anxiety from that made Soderling not go for his shots, allowing Dolgopolov to dominate rallies from the baseline.

The quarterfinal match that had many of us salivating is now gone.

Andy Murray vs. Robin Soderling is just another pipe dream.

But the Australian Open just became the Rafa-Roger-Novak-Andy show.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/580247-robin-soderling-shocked-by-rising-star-dolgopolov-in-five-setter

Deanna Russo Denise Richards Desiree Dymond Diane Kruger Dido