"I said 100 times, I don't believe in revenge, nothing" - When Rafael Nadal dismissed being weighed down by shock French Open loss to Robin Soderling

By Pritha Ghosh

Modified Oct 14, 2024 13:15 GMT

Nadal Robin Soderling French Open — Rafael Nadal lost to Robin Soderling at the 2009 French Open | Image Source: Getty

Rafael Nadal's loss to Robin Soderling at the 2009 French Open was one of the most shocking upsets in tennis history. This marked the Spaniard's first-ever loss at the French Open after 31 consecutive victories.

Nadal, a then-four-time defending champion at Roland-Garros and widely considered unbeatable on clay, was defeated by Soderling in the fourth round 6-2, 6-7(2), 6-4, 7-6(2). The Swede later reached the final of the tournament but Roger Federer dashed his hopes of winning his maiden Slam.

The 22-time Major champion later addressed his surprising loss in a press conference, saying he wasn’t burdened by it. He added that he didn't believe in seeking revenge and gave his best on the court.

"I said 100 times, I don't believe on revenges, nothing of this. Every match is a different match. I went on court, try my best what I did all my life."

"I didn't thought, no one second, on the Roland Garros match. Is completely different conditions. The moment is completely different, too. So doesn't affect nothing, the Roland Garros match."

About the author

Pritha is one of the driving forces behind Sportskeeda's tennis & baseball coverage, serving as an assistant content manager and editor. What began as a casual escape from her tiring biotechnology degree course in early 2022 has blossomed into a passion she loves, cherishes, and breathes every day.

Pritha’s love for the sport was spawned by her dad who showed her clips of "GOAT" Steffi Graf’s matches. Despite a thwarted dream of playing professionally due to injury, she finds solace in reporting the sport, while also mentoring other writers to ensure every article is error-free and top-notch. She double checks credible sources, such as the tournament/player handles and big tennis media outlets, and gives proper credit where required.

Pritha's journey at Sportskeeda is marked by nearly 2000 articles and close to 12 million views, with the "dream-come-true" moment of having her article shared by Chris Evert serving as a highlight of her career. A lifelong Wimbledon fan, Pritha also adores Rafael Nadal, Elena Rybakina, and Naomi Osaka.

When she's not seeking unique angles to elevate tennis coverage at Sportskeeda, she loves to channel her inner astrophysics "nerd" by exploring new sci-fi series and movies. A big Lionel Messi, Lewis Hamilton, and Randy Orton fan, she is always ready to engage in sports conversations anytime, anywhere, albeit not without a cup of coffee.

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Edited by Pritha Ghosh