Swede Robin Soderling's upset of defending champion Rafael Nadal on Sunday has kindled expectations of title glory in his illustrious compatriot Bjorn Borg. The 11-time grand slam winner Borg said the world No 25 - who was dominant in his four-set win over the Spaniard - has it in him to lift the French Open trophy. Nadal had never been beaten at Roland Garros before and was aiming to clinch his fifth successive French Open title but fell 6-2, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 in the fourth round.
Borg is himself a six-time winner in Paris and said this could be the start of the something special for Soderling. "If you can beat Nadal on clay in Paris, you can beat anyone," Borg told the Swedish newspaper Expressen. "I really hope the Swedish people understand what an achievement this is. He [Soderling] has put himself in the frame to become a regular top 10 player. There was just a little extra needed.
"Now I think he might have found that as there's no greater feat in the tennis world right now. "I think he can win the French Open. I really hope he succeeds. This is what Swedish tennis needs, and I genuinely believe he can go all the way." * PA
