Nadal edges through

Players Under the Microscope / Editor / 04 July 2007 / Leave a Comment

Rafael Nadal finally defeated Robin Soderling over five sets in a third-round tie at Wimbledon which spanned five days due to the rain.

The second seed had looked like cruising into the next round after racing into a two-set lead in a match which initially started with the knock-up on Saturday evening, only to be halted by seven rain breaks.

The stoppages clearly affected the Spaniard as his opponent Soderling battled back to make it two sets apiece with the match resuming on Court One on Wednesday morning at 4-4 in the fifth and deciding set.

However Nadal found his form again to take it after saving a break point, before then converting his fifth match point of the thrilling encounter to progress 6-4 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 4-6 7-5.

The French Open champion does not have long to celebrate the win as he must return on Thursday, weather permitting, for a fourth-round clash with Mikhail Youzhny as Wimbledon organisers battle to try and keep the tournament within its schedule after poor weather throughout.

Nadal, who is likely to be made favourite in the match odds market for his tie with Youzhny, remains the closest challenger to Roger Federer (1.3) in the outright winner market at 10.5, while Andy Roddick is next in the betting at 19.5.

Roddick completed his own rain-interrupted clash with Paul-Henri Mathieu on Centre Court today, going through 6-2 7-5 7-6 (8-6). He will now meet Richard Gasquet or J-Wilfried Tsonga in the last eight.