Kei Nishikori

David Nalbandian, current holder of the 2007 Madrid and Paris Masters titles, awaits Robin Söderling in Sunday’s If Stockholm Open final.

Both Söderling and Nalbandian shredded their respective portions of the draw en route to Sunday’s final. Söderling, Swedish native and hometown crowd favorite, has yet to be broken during the tournament. His 6-1, 6-0 thrashing of Kei Nishikori on Saturday was particularly impressive; fatigue should not be an issue.

Nalbandian, the Argentine with the killer backhand, was equally impressive. Every set he has played this week he has won with complete ease. After struggling for most of 2008, Nalbandian has found his form–just in time for the indoor season.

Söderling and Nalbandian have met on five occasions; Nalbandian has won four of them. Söderling’s serve and volley game does not unsettle Nalbandian as it does many other players. Nalbandian’s baseline game is too strong and his backhand is so good that it very often leaves his opponent out of position.

Söderling will put up a fight, the crowd will be behind him, and his serve–so long as he serves as he has all week–assures that he will at least have a presence in the match. In the end though, Nalbandian is the better player, playing on his favored surface. The Argentine in three.

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