Nadal predicts Federer will beat Soderling in QF

Rafael Nadal faced some resistance from Thomaz Bellucci but came through their fourth-round match 6-2, 7-5, 6-4, advancing a round further than he did in his shock Round of 16 defeat against Robin Soderling last year.

 

“I played probably my best match today in the tournament,” said Nadal, who was also asked about the upcoming meeting between Roger Federer and Soderling in the quarterfinals—a rematch of last year’s final.

 

“I don’t really know—[Soderling] has chances, I think,” said Nadal. “I think he’s not the favorite, but I think he can win. I think he’s not yet lost a set. I think he’s going to play well. We can say the same about Federer. I think it’s been his 23rd or 24th semifinal [that he's reached in a row at Grand Slams]. He’s not going to lost this one, I think.”