Soderling shocked and Ferrer threatening

Andy Murray bypassed Barcelona because of injury sustained during his impressive run in Monte Carlo, but another top ranked player had only his tennis to blame for early exit in Spain this week.

Ferrer Firing!

Robin Soderling's best has been excellent this season - 3 tournament wins, but punctuated sadly by unexpected defeats in tournaments that matter most, including the Australian Open when he was in control (4th round) and Masters events at Indian Wells and Miami (both 3rd round).  It was his sole Miami victim, Croatian Ivan Dodig, who sought and gained revenge, dispatching him from Barcelona reckoning - straights sets second round loss after first                                                                         round bye.

There is already a credible threat, to at least trouble Nadal in his bid for a 6th French title.  He is David Ferrer, who was the last player to defeat his countryman in a major, albeit with assistance of injury to Rafa in Melbourne.  Ferrer is timing his run beautifully, as are a number of Spanish players, and he did push Nadal in the Monte Carlo finale.

In Barcelona, home fans are in raptures, as Croatian Ivan Dodig is the only semi finalist not from Spain.  It could very well be a retake of Monte Carlo, because it's difficult to mount a case for Dodig knocking over Nadal in one semi, and I believe that Ferrer has momentum and the pedigree to resist a Nicolas Almagro push in the other.  He has yet to lose to Almagro on tour.

If a true clay courter is to challenge the master of the surface for the 2011 French Open, then it looks to be Ferrer for the job.  Unfortunately he may be seeded to meet one of the big 3 before the semis.  However, maybe it should be the top 3 to have concerns with that prospect.