Just a year ago, Roger Federer beat Robin Soderling in straight sets to claim his first French Open title. Even though Soderling gave it everything he had, there was only ever going to be one winner in that match and both players knew it; Soderling had made no secret before the match that he didn't think he could beat Federer. He was typically gracious in defeat but also issued a light-hearted warning after the match that he would not be so easily beaten in future.
Fast forward to 2010 and the two met again in the quarter finals, but this time Soderling was like that kid who'd had sand kicked in his face by the bully, then gone away and worked out so he could take revenge the next time they met. His powerful serve and groundstrokes were simply too much for Federer to handle today and Soderling won in four sets.
But good as they were, it wasn't his awesome shots that made the difference - it was his belief that he could win. And I can't help thinking that that belief was conceived in the disappointment of the earlier defeat. Perhaps he would have won even without that experience - perhaps, but I doubt it.
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