Monaco, Soderling Reach Bastad Finals

Juan Monaco crushed Tommy Robredo 6-0, 6-2 today to reach the finals at the Catella Swedish Open. Robredo was the defending champion and the number 3 seed.

Monaco was ranked in the top 20 for much of 2008, but in late 2008 and early 2009 injuries forced him out of competition and his ranking began to drop. He returned to play a relatively successful clay court season but it wasn't as successful as his 2008 season. His current ranking of 61 will most certainly be rising quickly. I think he will be back towards the top 20 very soon.

Robin Soderling ended the run of Andreas Vinciguerra today 6-1, 7-6(6). I thought maybe Soderling may just be a flash in the pan after Roland Garros, but he made it to the fourth round of Wimbledon, and now the finals in Bastad. It appears that the only player that can beat him is Roger Federer.