Soderling eases into Paris semis

Federer’s hot streak continues as Djokovic crashes out.

PARIS: Two-time French Open finalist Robin Soderling led the way into the ATP Paris Masters semi-finals with a 7-5, 6-4 defeat of American eighth-seed Andy Roddick.

Roddick began the match with three straight aces but Soderling began to find range with his powerful ground-strokes and the American had to save break points in his second, third and fourth service games. Roddick’s resistance was finally broken when, after a pair of double-faults, he netted a backhand in his sixth service game to give Soderling the first break of the match, and the first set duly followed.

Soderling secured a break in the first game of the second set and then saw off a break point to go 2-0 up before cruising to a victory.

Federer on a roll

Roger Federer continued his current hot streak by advancing to the quarter-finals. The top-seed dispatched Radek Stepanek 6-4, 6-3, firing 11 aces, saving two break points and winning his tenth match from 12 against the Czech. Federer has never been past the quarter-finals at the event but is feeling particularly at home on the ultra-fast court.

Andy Murray needed a recovery in the first set from deficits both in the set and the tie-break to subdue Croatian 13th-seed Marin Cilic 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 6-4 in a battle of 25 aces lasting over more than two hours.

Unseeded Michael Llodra ousted Djokovic 7-6, (8-6), 6-2 while Nikolay Davydenko sent out Berdych 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-0.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2010.