ATP MEMPHIS
Soderling Gets Past Roddick
Memphis, TN -Swede Robin Soderling fired 16 aces and put on a flawless display in defeating top seed Andy Roddick 7-6(6), 6-3, on Friday night in the quarterfinals of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships.
Soderling improved to 9-2 on the season by reaching the semifinals for the second straight week. Last week in Rotterdam he lost in the final in a third set tie-break to Frenchman Michael Llodra.
"We both served well and it was fun to play against him," said Soderling of his first-time meeting with Roddick. "This is probably my favorite court on tour. I am serving great and I have no complaints at all."
"He played well and I thought if I would have gotten through that match, I've had a good chance of going the whole way," said Roddick, who never had break point on the Swede's serve. "I certainly think he's going to go all the way."
In the first set, both players held serve, forcing a tie-break. Roddick had a set point at 6-5 but Soderling hit a service winner and fired an ace, giving him a 7-6 lead. On the next point, Roddick hit a forehand that clicked the top of the net and went wide. In the second set, Soderling went up a break at 4-3 when Roddick double-faulted. He then held for 5-3 and broke Roddick a second time to secure the victory.
Soderling has only faced two break points in 25 service games this week. "I think I am playing better and better with every match," said the 23-year-old Swede.
He will next face No. 4 seed Radek Stepanek, who only lost nine points in 10 service games in a 7-6(4), 6-1 victory over Aussie left-hander Chris Guccione. Stepanek is coming off a runner-up last Sunday in San Jose.
Stepanek converted two of seven break points with both breaks coming in the second set (at 2-0 and 4-0) while never facing a break point in the one hour and nine minute match. Guccione only won 42% of second serve points while Stepanek more than doubled that mark at 86%.
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Soderling, Darcis in Final
Memphis, TN -- No. 8 seed Robin Soderling maintained his perfect serving record as he advanced to Sunday's final of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships with a 7-6(2), 6-3 victory over No. 4 seed Radek Stepanek.
The 23-year-old Swede has yet to drop serve in 35 service games this week (saving four break points) and he will meet Belgian Steve Darcis in the championship. The winner will receive $163,750 and the runner-up $81,000.
"I feel very good and I love to play here," said Soderling," who will attempt to win his third career ATP title in his seventh final. "The center court suits my game and I played some really good matches here two years ago when I reached the final."
Soderling, who reached the final in Rotterdam last week, hit nine of his 12 serves in the opening set, including three in the tie-break. He also saved one break point at 5-5 in the opening set with an ace. He jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the tie-break and never looked back.
In the second set, Stepanek was broken in the fifth game, double-faulting twice, and then he lost serve serve in the ninth game.
"He was serving big and I had a chance in the first set but then the tie-break went quickly," said Stepanek, who is 1-3 lifetime against the Swede. "I'm disappointed with the loss but I played some good tennis with back-to-back finals and semifinals the last two weeks."
Soderling will attempt to become the fifth different Swede to capture the Memphis title (since 1976), joining Joachim Johansson (2004), Magnus Larsson (2000), Stefan Edberg (1985, '87) and Bjorn Borg (1977).
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Darcis suprises Soderling
Memphis, TN -- Unseeded Steve Darcis claimed his second career ATP title Sunday with a 6-3, 7-6(5) victory in one hour and 15 minutes over No. 8 seed Robin Soderling in the final of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships.
The 23-year-old Belgian captured his first ATP title in Amersfoot, the Netherlands on clay in July 2007 where, as a qualifier, he became the lowest ranked (No. 297) titlist of the season.
Coming into this week, Darcis was just 2-5 on the season, his best showing being a second round appearance in Sydney in January. He lost in the first round in his other three ATP main draws and in Belgium's Davis Cup tie with the Czech Republic.
Darcis almost didn't get out of the first round when Vincent Spadea served for the match at 5-4 in the third set but he managed to win in a tie-break. He only dropped two sets during the tournament.
The No. 81st-ranked Darcis will crack the Top 50 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings for the first time, climbing to around No. 45. He earned a career-high $163,750.
"It's tough for me to speak right now," said Darcis. "I just finished one hour ago. I feel great. It's the second victory for me in two finals. It's unbelievable. I don't know how to explain it. It was a great feeling when I saw the ball going out because I knew the match wasn't finished. He was playing great. He was serving really good. It was hard for me to win my service games sometimes, I'm really happy about the end. Just like I could say "ooof" It was a great moment."
"I don't realize what I did today. Maybe if you ask me the same question tomorrow, I might answer better. It's just amazing the way I feel right now. Really tough for me to explain."
Soderling, who reached the final last week in Rotterdam, was bidding to become the first Swede to capture an ATP title in the last two-plus seasons since Oct. 2, 2005 when Jonas Bjorkman captured the crown in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (d. Stepanek). He was appearing in his seventh career ATP final (2-5); all coming indoors. It was also his second runner-up effort in Memphis. Two years ago he lost to Tommy Haas in the final. His last ATP title came in Milan three years ago (d. Stepanek).
"He played really well," said Soderling. "He didn't miss much on his serve, much better than I expected him to do. It's a shame that I played my worst match in the final two weeks in a row now. I think I played some really good tennis this week. I didn't play bad today either, but I played a lot better in my other matches. Maybe he made me play bad. He played really good."
Soderling, who did not drop serve coming into the final (held 35 games), was broken the only time in the fourth game of the opening set. Darcis did not drop a point in his next three service games to capture the set in 27 minutes. In the second set, both players held serve, forcing a tie-break, which Soderling led most of the way. He went up 5-3 but then lost the next four points as Soderling hit a forehand long.
Soderling was playing in only his third tournament of the season since missing the final three months of last year with a left wrist injury. On his comeback in Marseille, he reached the quarterfinals (l. to Ancic) before going on to reach the Rotterdam final. His match record is 10-3 on the season.
ATP Singles -
[8] R Soderling (SWE) d [Q] F Niemeyer (CAN) 6/2 6/1
[8] R Soderling (SWE) d V Hanescu (ROU) 6/2 6/1
[8] R Soderling (SWE) d [1] [WC] A Roddick (USA) 7/6(6) 6/3
[8] R Soderling (SWE) d [4] R Stepanek (CZE) 7/6(2) 6/3
S Darcis (BEL) d [8] R Soderling (SWE) 63 76(5)
MEMPHIS, Tennessee - L'Américain Andy Roddick a atteint, mercredi, le deuxième tour du tournoi de Memphis.
Le favori a vaincu Gilles Muller, issu des qualifications, en des manches de 6-4, 7-6 (4). Roddick, qui a remporté la finale du tournoi de San Jose dimanche dernier, aura comme prochain adversaire Mardy Fish, celui-là même qu'il a battu en quarts de finale à San Jose.
Dans un autre match de premier tour, Frédéric Niemeyer, de Deauville, a subi l'éliminations aux mains du Suédois Robin Soderling, classé huitième. Niemeyer, lui aussi issu des qualifications, s'est incliné 6-2, 6-1.
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Du très bon Roddick
Andy Roddick a poursuivi son irrésistible tournée américaine avec une superbe démonstration au deuxième tour du tournoi de Memphis. Comme à San José il y a une semaine, «A-Rod» s'est débarrassé d'un Mardy Fish toujours coriace sur dur. Sauf que cette fois, ce n'est pas en trois sets accrochés (7/6 1/6 7/5) que le sixième joueur mondial a expédié son adversaire, mais en deux manches et 61 minutes de jeu seulement. 14 aces, 77% de première balle, Roddick était quasiment injouable pour Fish qui s'est quand même procuré deux balles de break. Le vainqueur de l'US Open 2003 qui s'est dit en «excellente forme physique» malgré son marathon, affrontera Robin Soderling qui a rayé de la carte Victor Hanescu en deux manches (6/2 6/1) dans un prometteur duel de canonniers.
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Söderling se paie Roddick !
Finaliste le week-end dernier à Rotterdam, face à Michaël Llodra, Robin Söderling continue de briller sur les courts. Vendredi, le Suédois s'est offert le scalp d'Andy Roddick en quart de finale du tournoi de Memphis. Face à la tête de série numéro 1 du tableau, Söderling, qui affrontera Radek Stepanek en demie, s'est imposé en deux manches (7-6, 6-3).
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ATP - Memphis - Robin Soderling rejoint Steve Darcis en finale
Le Suédois Robin Soderling s'est qualifié pour la finale du tournoi de tennis de Memphis en battant samedi le Tchèque Radek Stepanek, tête de série N.4, en deux manches 7-6 (7/2), 6-3.
En finale, Soderling (N.8), vainqueur de l'Américain Andy Roddick en quarts de finale, affrontera le Belge Steve Darcis.
Darcis, 81e mondial, avait battu le Suédois Jonas Bjorkman en trois manches 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 plus tôt dans la journée.
Darcis crée la surprise
Le Belge Steve Darcis a créé une énorme surprise en remportant le deuxième tournoi ATP de sa carrière dimanche à Memphis, battant en finale le Suédois Robin Soderling, tête de série N.8, en deux manches 6-3, 7-6 (7/5).
Le jeune Liégeois de 23 ans est sans doute le joueur le plus efficace de l'histoire de l'ATP: il n'a gagné que 13 matches dans sa carrière -contre 9 défaites- mais il compte déjà deux titres.
Darcis, 81e joueur mondial, s'était fait remarquer l'an passé lors du tournoi d'Amersfoort en raflant le titre alors qu'il n'avait jamais remporté le moindre match sur le circuit ATP. Depuis, il était retombé dans l'anonymat en gagnant seulement trois matches, dont deux cette année.
Il n'était donc pas parmi les favoris en début de semaine dans la salle du Tennessee. Mais le droitier belge, notamment vainqueur de l'Autrichien Jurgen Melzer (N.7) au 2e tour, a parfaitement tiré profit d'une moitié de tableau plutôt dégagée, avec le forfait de dernière minute de l'Américain James Blake et la défaite surprise du tenant du titre, l'Allemand Tommy Haas, au 2e tour.
En finale, il s'est montré opportuniste et efficace pour se défaire en 1h15 de Soderling.
Bis repetita pour Soderling
La rencontre a été un long duel de serveurs. Le premier à craquer a été Soderling qui a concédé sa mise en jeu -pour la première fois de la semaine- en milieu de première manche. En 30 minutes, Darcis, qui a sauvé une seule balle de break, a empoché le set initial.
Sans se relâcher, le Belge, malgré sa taille moyenne (1,77 m), a continué à «tenir» son service en n'offrant aucune occasion à son adversaire d'obtenir une balle de break.
En face, Soderling, aidé par 14 aces, a lui aussi tenu bon, et les deux hommes se sont donnés rendez-vous au jeu décisif, conclu au 12e point par Darcis.
De son côté, Soderling, 23 ans et 42e mondial, vit sa seconde désillusion lors d'une finale en huit jours. La semaine dernière à Rotterdam, le grand Scandinave (1,90 m) avait été battu pour le titre par le Français Michaël Llodra.
Soderling, finaliste à Memphis en 2006, était en quête du troisième titre de sa carrière après deux titres (Lyon en 2004 et Milan en 2005).
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Söderling i semi - slog Roddick
Robin Söderlings comeback efter skada har varit imponerande.
Söderling vann med setsiffrorna 7-6 (8-6), 6-3 mot den förre världsettan och numera sjätterankade amerikanen.
- Vi servade båda bra och det var kul att spela mot honom. Det här är förmodligen min favoritbana på tennistouren. Jag servade bra och har inget att klaga över, sade Söderling till turneringens hemsida.
Svensken gjorde 16 serveess i matchen, ett mer än Roddick, och just ett serveess räddade honom när amerikanen hade setboll i första sets tiebreak. I andra set kunde sedan Söderling dra nytta av att amerikanen gjorde ett dubbelfel, vilket gav break fram till 4-3-ledning och slutlig seger. Roddick var storfavorit att ta hem ATP-turneringen i Memphis som nu har blivit en rejäl svenskframgång med även Jonas Björkman i semifinal.
- Han spelade riktigt bra. Jag tror att han kommer att gå hela vägen, sade Roddick om Söderlings chanser i semifinalen.
I kvällens semifinal möter Söderling tjecken Radek Stepanek, tidigare topp 10-spelare men nu rankad 31:a i världen. Skulle Söderling vinna kan det bli en helsvensk final i morgon. I den andra semifinalen ställs Jonas Björkman mot överraskningen Steve Darcis, Belgien.
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Robin Söderling i ny ATP-final
Robin Söderling följde upp segern mot Andy Roddick med seger över Radek Stepanek i Memphis ATP och på söndagen spelar han sin andra raka ATP-final. Motståndare blir belgaren Steve Darcis som slog ut Jonas Björkman i den andra semifinalen. Söderling har nu chansen att ta sin tredje titel i karriären och i så fall Sveriges 266:e under den öppna eran.
Söderling gör sin tredje ATP-turnering för i år efter handledsskadan som hållit honom borta från turneringsspel sedan i juli ifjol. I semifinalen fick formstarke Stepanek ge sig i två raka set.
Jonas Björkman ser också ut att ha hittat formen. Efter träningsveckan med Davis Cup-laget och singelmatcherna där har han i Memphis hittat tillbaks i god gammal form.
- Spelade bra idag också men tyvärr så spelade han ett snäpp bättre. Nu hoppas jag Robin tar hem det, säger Jonas Björkman som hade 1-0 i set mot Darcis i sin semifinal.
Söderling har aldrig mött Darcis på ATP-touren och vinner han blir det Sveriges första ATP-singeltitel sedan Thomas Johansson vann St Petersburg hösten 2006. Och det blir samtidigt singeltitel nummer 266 inkasserad av en svensk spelare sedan tennisen blev öppen 1968.
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Bra vecka - bittert slut, Robin
Det blev en ny finalförlust för Robin Söderling. Belgaren Steve Darcis blev för svår i Memphisfinalen och vann 6-3, 7-6. Robins segern över Andy Roddick i veckan imponerar dock och resultatet i sin helhet är väl godkänt. Jonas Björkmans semifinalplats glädjer också. Las Vegas blir nästa stopp för ATP-svenskarna.
Söderling kom inte riktigt upp i samma standard i finalen som i tidigare matcher i veckan tycker tränaren Peter Carlsson.
- Ett tidigt break i första var inte bra, det blev uppförsbacke sedan, säger han.
6-3 i första följdes av ett jämnare set som gick till tiebreak.
- Robin hade 5-3 och ett bra läge efter att ha fått in en förstaserve men missade. Det är små marginaler. Darcis servade själv mycket bra och får tillbaka mycket från bakplan. En bra vecka men surt just nu efteråt förstås. Finalen är kanske den värsta matchen att förlora å sätt och vis, säger Peter Carlsson.
Hur reagerar då Robins kropp på de två senaste veckornas tio matcher efter ett långt uppehåll? Sliten?
- Njaa, inte så farligt. Robin fick några öätta matcher här i inledningen så det är nog mest mentalt, menar coachen
Soderling Gets Past Roddick
Memphis, TN -Swede Robin Soderling fired 16 aces and put on a flawless display in defeating top seed Andy Roddick 7-6(6), 6-3, on Friday night in the quarterfinals of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships.
Soderling improved to 9-2 on the season by reaching the semifinals for the second straight week. Last week in Rotterdam he lost in the final in a third set tie-break to Frenchman Michael Llodra.
"We both served well and it was fun to play against him," said Soderling of his first-time meeting with Roddick. "This is probably my favorite court on tour. I am serving great and I have no complaints at all."
"He played well and I thought if I would have gotten through that match, I've had a good chance of going the whole way," said Roddick, who never had break point on the Swede's serve. "I certainly think he's going to go all the way."
In the first set, both players held serve, forcing a tie-break. Roddick had a set point at 6-5 but Soderling hit a service winner and fired an ace, giving him a 7-6 lead. On the next point, Roddick hit a forehand that clicked the top of the net and went wide. In the second set, Soderling went up a break at 4-3 when Roddick double-faulted. He then held for 5-3 and broke Roddick a second time to secure the victory.
Soderling has only faced two break points in 25 service games this week. "I think I am playing better and better with every match," said the 23-year-old Swede.
He will next face No. 4 seed Radek Stepanek, who only lost nine points in 10 service games in a 7-6(4), 6-1 victory over Aussie left-hander Chris Guccione. Stepanek is coming off a runner-up last Sunday in San Jose.
Stepanek converted two of seven break points with both breaks coming in the second set (at 2-0 and 4-0) while never facing a break point in the one hour and nine minute match. Guccione only won 42% of second serve points while Stepanek more than doubled that mark at 86%.
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Soderling, Darcis in Final
Memphis, TN -- No. 8 seed Robin Soderling maintained his perfect serving record as he advanced to Sunday's final of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships with a 7-6(2), 6-3 victory over No. 4 seed Radek Stepanek.
The 23-year-old Swede has yet to drop serve in 35 service games this week (saving four break points) and he will meet Belgian Steve Darcis in the championship. The winner will receive $163,750 and the runner-up $81,000.
"I feel very good and I love to play here," said Soderling," who will attempt to win his third career ATP title in his seventh final. "The center court suits my game and I played some really good matches here two years ago when I reached the final."
Soderling, who reached the final in Rotterdam last week, hit nine of his 12 serves in the opening set, including three in the tie-break. He also saved one break point at 5-5 in the opening set with an ace. He jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the tie-break and never looked back.
In the second set, Stepanek was broken in the fifth game, double-faulting twice, and then he lost serve serve in the ninth game.
"He was serving big and I had a chance in the first set but then the tie-break went quickly," said Stepanek, who is 1-3 lifetime against the Swede. "I'm disappointed with the loss but I played some good tennis with back-to-back finals and semifinals the last two weeks."
Soderling will attempt to become the fifth different Swede to capture the Memphis title (since 1976), joining Joachim Johansson (2004), Magnus Larsson (2000), Stefan Edberg (1985, '87) and Bjorn Borg (1977).
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Darcis suprises Soderling
Memphis, TN -- Unseeded Steve Darcis claimed his second career ATP title Sunday with a 6-3, 7-6(5) victory in one hour and 15 minutes over No. 8 seed Robin Soderling in the final of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships.
The 23-year-old Belgian captured his first ATP title in Amersfoot, the Netherlands on clay in July 2007 where, as a qualifier, he became the lowest ranked (No. 297) titlist of the season.
Coming into this week, Darcis was just 2-5 on the season, his best showing being a second round appearance in Sydney in January. He lost in the first round in his other three ATP main draws and in Belgium's Davis Cup tie with the Czech Republic.
Darcis almost didn't get out of the first round when Vincent Spadea served for the match at 5-4 in the third set but he managed to win in a tie-break. He only dropped two sets during the tournament.
The No. 81st-ranked Darcis will crack the Top 50 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings for the first time, climbing to around No. 45. He earned a career-high $163,750.
"It's tough for me to speak right now," said Darcis. "I just finished one hour ago. I feel great. It's the second victory for me in two finals. It's unbelievable. I don't know how to explain it. It was a great feeling when I saw the ball going out because I knew the match wasn't finished. He was playing great. He was serving really good. It was hard for me to win my service games sometimes, I'm really happy about the end. Just like I could say "ooof" It was a great moment."
"I don't realize what I did today. Maybe if you ask me the same question tomorrow, I might answer better. It's just amazing the way I feel right now. Really tough for me to explain."
Soderling, who reached the final last week in Rotterdam, was bidding to become the first Swede to capture an ATP title in the last two-plus seasons since Oct. 2, 2005 when Jonas Bjorkman captured the crown in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (d. Stepanek). He was appearing in his seventh career ATP final (2-5); all coming indoors. It was also his second runner-up effort in Memphis. Two years ago he lost to Tommy Haas in the final. His last ATP title came in Milan three years ago (d. Stepanek).
"He played really well," said Soderling. "He didn't miss much on his serve, much better than I expected him to do. It's a shame that I played my worst match in the final two weeks in a row now. I think I played some really good tennis this week. I didn't play bad today either, but I played a lot better in my other matches. Maybe he made me play bad. He played really good."
Soderling, who did not drop serve coming into the final (held 35 games), was broken the only time in the fourth game of the opening set. Darcis did not drop a point in his next three service games to capture the set in 27 minutes. In the second set, both players held serve, forcing a tie-break, which Soderling led most of the way. He went up 5-3 but then lost the next four points as Soderling hit a forehand long.
Soderling was playing in only his third tournament of the season since missing the final three months of last year with a left wrist injury. On his comeback in Marseille, he reached the quarterfinals (l. to Ancic) before going on to reach the Rotterdam final. His match record is 10-3 on the season.
ATP Singles -
[8] R Soderling (SWE) d [Q] F Niemeyer (CAN) 6/2 6/1
[8] R Soderling (SWE) d V Hanescu (ROU) 6/2 6/1
[8] R Soderling (SWE) d [1] [WC] A Roddick (USA) 7/6(6) 6/3
[8] R Soderling (SWE) d [4] R Stepanek (CZE) 7/6(2) 6/3
S Darcis (BEL) d [8] R Soderling (SWE) 63 76(5)
MEMPHIS, Tennessee - L'Américain Andy Roddick a atteint, mercredi, le deuxième tour du tournoi de Memphis.
Le favori a vaincu Gilles Muller, issu des qualifications, en des manches de 6-4, 7-6 (4). Roddick, qui a remporté la finale du tournoi de San Jose dimanche dernier, aura comme prochain adversaire Mardy Fish, celui-là même qu'il a battu en quarts de finale à San Jose.
Dans un autre match de premier tour, Frédéric Niemeyer, de Deauville, a subi l'éliminations aux mains du Suédois Robin Soderling, classé huitième. Niemeyer, lui aussi issu des qualifications, s'est incliné 6-2, 6-1.
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Du très bon Roddick
Andy Roddick a poursuivi son irrésistible tournée américaine avec une superbe démonstration au deuxième tour du tournoi de Memphis. Comme à San José il y a une semaine, «A-Rod» s'est débarrassé d'un Mardy Fish toujours coriace sur dur. Sauf que cette fois, ce n'est pas en trois sets accrochés (7/6 1/6 7/5) que le sixième joueur mondial a expédié son adversaire, mais en deux manches et 61 minutes de jeu seulement. 14 aces, 77% de première balle, Roddick était quasiment injouable pour Fish qui s'est quand même procuré deux balles de break. Le vainqueur de l'US Open 2003 qui s'est dit en «excellente forme physique» malgré son marathon, affrontera Robin Soderling qui a rayé de la carte Victor Hanescu en deux manches (6/2 6/1) dans un prometteur duel de canonniers.
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Söderling se paie Roddick !
Finaliste le week-end dernier à Rotterdam, face à Michaël Llodra, Robin Söderling continue de briller sur les courts. Vendredi, le Suédois s'est offert le scalp d'Andy Roddick en quart de finale du tournoi de Memphis. Face à la tête de série numéro 1 du tableau, Söderling, qui affrontera Radek Stepanek en demie, s'est imposé en deux manches (7-6, 6-3).
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ATP - Memphis - Robin Soderling rejoint Steve Darcis en finale
Le Suédois Robin Soderling s'est qualifié pour la finale du tournoi de tennis de Memphis en battant samedi le Tchèque Radek Stepanek, tête de série N.4, en deux manches 7-6 (7/2), 6-3.
En finale, Soderling (N.8), vainqueur de l'Américain Andy Roddick en quarts de finale, affrontera le Belge Steve Darcis.
Darcis, 81e mondial, avait battu le Suédois Jonas Bjorkman en trois manches 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 plus tôt dans la journée.
Darcis crée la surprise
Le Belge Steve Darcis a créé une énorme surprise en remportant le deuxième tournoi ATP de sa carrière dimanche à Memphis, battant en finale le Suédois Robin Soderling, tête de série N.8, en deux manches 6-3, 7-6 (7/5).
Le jeune Liégeois de 23 ans est sans doute le joueur le plus efficace de l'histoire de l'ATP: il n'a gagné que 13 matches dans sa carrière -contre 9 défaites- mais il compte déjà deux titres.
Darcis, 81e joueur mondial, s'était fait remarquer l'an passé lors du tournoi d'Amersfoort en raflant le titre alors qu'il n'avait jamais remporté le moindre match sur le circuit ATP. Depuis, il était retombé dans l'anonymat en gagnant seulement trois matches, dont deux cette année.
Il n'était donc pas parmi les favoris en début de semaine dans la salle du Tennessee. Mais le droitier belge, notamment vainqueur de l'Autrichien Jurgen Melzer (N.7) au 2e tour, a parfaitement tiré profit d'une moitié de tableau plutôt dégagée, avec le forfait de dernière minute de l'Américain James Blake et la défaite surprise du tenant du titre, l'Allemand Tommy Haas, au 2e tour.
En finale, il s'est montré opportuniste et efficace pour se défaire en 1h15 de Soderling.
Bis repetita pour Soderling
La rencontre a été un long duel de serveurs. Le premier à craquer a été Soderling qui a concédé sa mise en jeu -pour la première fois de la semaine- en milieu de première manche. En 30 minutes, Darcis, qui a sauvé une seule balle de break, a empoché le set initial.
Sans se relâcher, le Belge, malgré sa taille moyenne (1,77 m), a continué à «tenir» son service en n'offrant aucune occasion à son adversaire d'obtenir une balle de break.
En face, Soderling, aidé par 14 aces, a lui aussi tenu bon, et les deux hommes se sont donnés rendez-vous au jeu décisif, conclu au 12e point par Darcis.
De son côté, Soderling, 23 ans et 42e mondial, vit sa seconde désillusion lors d'une finale en huit jours. La semaine dernière à Rotterdam, le grand Scandinave (1,90 m) avait été battu pour le titre par le Français Michaël Llodra.
Soderling, finaliste à Memphis en 2006, était en quête du troisième titre de sa carrière après deux titres (Lyon en 2004 et Milan en 2005).
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Söderling i semi - slog Roddick
Robin Söderlings comeback efter skada har varit imponerande.
Söderling vann med setsiffrorna 7-6 (8-6), 6-3 mot den förre världsettan och numera sjätterankade amerikanen.
- Vi servade båda bra och det var kul att spela mot honom. Det här är förmodligen min favoritbana på tennistouren. Jag servade bra och har inget att klaga över, sade Söderling till turneringens hemsida.
Svensken gjorde 16 serveess i matchen, ett mer än Roddick, och just ett serveess räddade honom när amerikanen hade setboll i första sets tiebreak. I andra set kunde sedan Söderling dra nytta av att amerikanen gjorde ett dubbelfel, vilket gav break fram till 4-3-ledning och slutlig seger. Roddick var storfavorit att ta hem ATP-turneringen i Memphis som nu har blivit en rejäl svenskframgång med även Jonas Björkman i semifinal.
- Han spelade riktigt bra. Jag tror att han kommer att gå hela vägen, sade Roddick om Söderlings chanser i semifinalen.
I kvällens semifinal möter Söderling tjecken Radek Stepanek, tidigare topp 10-spelare men nu rankad 31:a i världen. Skulle Söderling vinna kan det bli en helsvensk final i morgon. I den andra semifinalen ställs Jonas Björkman mot överraskningen Steve Darcis, Belgien.
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Robin Söderling i ny ATP-final
Robin Söderling följde upp segern mot Andy Roddick med seger över Radek Stepanek i Memphis ATP och på söndagen spelar han sin andra raka ATP-final. Motståndare blir belgaren Steve Darcis som slog ut Jonas Björkman i den andra semifinalen. Söderling har nu chansen att ta sin tredje titel i karriären och i så fall Sveriges 266:e under den öppna eran.
Söderling gör sin tredje ATP-turnering för i år efter handledsskadan som hållit honom borta från turneringsspel sedan i juli ifjol. I semifinalen fick formstarke Stepanek ge sig i två raka set.
Jonas Björkman ser också ut att ha hittat formen. Efter träningsveckan med Davis Cup-laget och singelmatcherna där har han i Memphis hittat tillbaks i god gammal form.
- Spelade bra idag också men tyvärr så spelade han ett snäpp bättre. Nu hoppas jag Robin tar hem det, säger Jonas Björkman som hade 1-0 i set mot Darcis i sin semifinal.
Söderling har aldrig mött Darcis på ATP-touren och vinner han blir det Sveriges första ATP-singeltitel sedan Thomas Johansson vann St Petersburg hösten 2006. Och det blir samtidigt singeltitel nummer 266 inkasserad av en svensk spelare sedan tennisen blev öppen 1968.
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Bra vecka - bittert slut, Robin
Det blev en ny finalförlust för Robin Söderling. Belgaren Steve Darcis blev för svår i Memphisfinalen och vann 6-3, 7-6. Robins segern över Andy Roddick i veckan imponerar dock och resultatet i sin helhet är väl godkänt. Jonas Björkmans semifinalplats glädjer också. Las Vegas blir nästa stopp för ATP-svenskarna.
Söderling kom inte riktigt upp i samma standard i finalen som i tidigare matcher i veckan tycker tränaren Peter Carlsson.
- Ett tidigt break i första var inte bra, det blev uppförsbacke sedan, säger han.
6-3 i första följdes av ett jämnare set som gick till tiebreak.
- Robin hade 5-3 och ett bra läge efter att ha fått in en förstaserve men missade. Det är små marginaler. Darcis servade själv mycket bra och får tillbaka mycket från bakplan. En bra vecka men surt just nu efteråt förstås. Finalen är kanske den värsta matchen att förlora å sätt och vis, säger Peter Carlsson.
Hur reagerar då Robins kropp på de två senaste veckornas tio matcher efter ett långt uppehåll? Sliten?
- Njaa, inte så farligt. Robin fick några öätta matcher här i inledningen så det är nog mest mentalt, menar coachen