The number one Swede overpowered our number one American in straight sets, 7-6(6), 6-3, at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis, Tennessee. Although Andy held off six break points in the first set, Robin Soderling was persistent and broke Andy twice in the second set to take the semifinal ticket in just under an hour and a half.

Soderling opened the match on his racquet, and immediately began swinging hard once on the receiving side. Earning a break point on Andy’s first service game showed that Soderling has prepared for this first encounter with our American Firepower. Though Andy held him off, a determined Soderling earned double break points on Andy’s second service game. Utilizing his experience to come back from break points, Andy put that into play and held these break points and three others to find himself in a tie-break.

Andy seemed to be picking up some steam as he picked up the lead, breaking Soderling on the first point. Soderling, however, used what had been working for him all set and broke back at 2-1. Though Andy had a set point at 6-5, Soderling held for two points, and capitalized on his match-point lead by breaking Andy to claim the set, 7-6(6).

Starting the second set on Andy’s racquet, Soderling had warmed up to Andy’s rocket serve and rocketed to an immediate break point. With ace #11, though, Andy held at 1-0. At 3-3, another double break point came around for Soderling and this time, Andy could only hold off one. Trailing 5-3 after Soderling held, Andy did everything he could to stay in the match. Bringing Andy to deuce, Soderling was overcome on his first match point, but the second did not slip through his strings. After one hour and twenty-five minutes, Sweden’s top man came out on top, 7-6(6), 6-3.

With Andy now walking out of Memphis, he’ll be flying into Dubai to prepare for his first appearance there. Stay tuned to AR.com for Andy’s next stop to face off with most of the Top Ten players in the world.