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Nadal cruises to fifth French Open crown

Soderling can't repeat 2009 upset, loses in straight sets to new No. 1 player

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Asked to compare this version of Nadal with the one Soderling defeated twice last season, Norman replied: “He’s being more aggressive. He’s moving a lot better.”

Both are a result of being happy and healthy, two things Nadal was decidedly not for long stretches in 2009, his annus horribilis.

There was the painful knee tendinitis, which hampered him when Soderling snapped Nadal’s record 31-match French Open winning streak. Those knees also forced Nadal to decline to defend his 2008 Wimbledon title.

“If you think about the knees,” he said Sunday, “you can’t think about the ball.”

There also was an abdominal tear that affected him at the U.S. Open.

Most distracting and disturbing of all was his parents’ separation.

“A difficult year for me,” Nadal said.

Toni Nadal said his nephew wasn’t able to put family matters out of his mind until the beginning of this season.

Still, through the injuries, through the losses, through the personal issues, the Nadals must have known Rafael would return to the level displayed Sunday, right? Or did they actually harbor questions, no matter how great a player he already had shown himself to be?

In other words: Were they worried?

“Sure. I think everybody (has) doubts,” the younger Nadal said. “I am not an exception.”

Said Toni Nadal: “Always, I have doubts.”

Those weren’t resolved until mid-April, at the clay-court tournament in Monte Carlo — and Nadal hasn’t lost since, compiling a 22-match winning streak.

There’s no time to celebrate properly, though: Nadal plans to be in London on Monday, practicing. There is grass-court tennis to be played, and a second Wimbledon championship to chase.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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