Finding his feet - 4/20/2011

Date: 4/20/2011
Result: Barcelona R2, Ivan Dodig def. Robin Soderling, 6-2 6-4
Why it matters:
- I'm willing to acknowledge that switching surfaces can be difficult.  The intricacies of playing on hardcourt versus clay are more pronounced than they might seem to the naked eye.  So for Soderling to lose his first clay court match of the year, despite his tremendous successes over the last two years, isn't utterly shocking.  But when it's his serve, a stroke that, at least regarding the mechanics, shouldn't change much between surfaces, that's the main culprit in leading to his loss, then that becomes a lot more worrisome.  Broken 5 times out of 9 services games is a BAD ratio.  Soderling's serve needs to click if he wants to be successful, since he thrives on those free points (including points that are completely set up off the serve).  Watch out to see how quickly this gets resolved.  Soderling will need to get his focus back in time for Paris if he wants to make a third straight final.
- Dodig has been putting his game together this year.  Only guy to take a set off Djokovic at the Australian Open, wins first career title at home in Zagreb, so why not a top 5 win?  Dodig's dangerous because he doesn't seem to get too nervous, and has the steady elements that should keep him in almost every match, especially on clay.  I'm not advocating betting your house on him to win any given match, but he's should always be on the radar, especially to pick off struggling big-hitters who could donate lots of errors.
Honorable Mentions:
- Fes R2, Nadia Lalami def. Aravane Rezai - 26 76 64 - Oops.  My bad.  I read too much into a comeback win by Rezai yesterday.  She is having a bad year, and this isn't going to help.  She needs something big.  Still, take nothing away from Lalami.  This is her biggest win ever, and even sweeter to come in front of her home crowd.
- Stuttgart R2, Andrea Petkovic def. Jelena Jankovic - 36 61 63 - Petkovic is proving her run to the Miami semifinals was no fluke, winning again over Jankovic.  Petkovic has shown this week that she can fight back from slow starts (and maybe release some of the pressure of the home crowd over the course of a match).  By focusing harder and shoring up her game at the right moments, she's truly evolving into a top player.  Germany is so hungry for a champion after they were spoiled with Steffi Graf.  Perhaps Petkovic can rise to the occasion.