Soderling soldiers on to Federer clash

ROBIN Soderling has the unenviable task of taking on five-time champion Roger Federer in the fourth round at Wimbledon on Monday – but it at least has not affected his sense of humour.

Soderling, who lost to Federer in straight sets in the recent French Open final, was asked if he had any reason to think their meeting at Wimbledon would be any closer. "No," deadpanned the Swede, much to the amusement of the assembled reporters. And when asked what he would need to improve from Paris, the 24-year-old joked: "Everything."

Meanwhile, so widespread have the grunts become among the top women's players that when a match passes by without any it grabs the attention.

Daniela Hantuchova was asked about the quiet nature of her clash with Ai Sugiyama and offered an insight into how the more established players on tour view the habit.

"I think me and Sugi are the players from the older generation where we taught always playing fair play," she said. "Making an extra sound to disrupt the opponents and the game, I don't think it's nice."