Tennis-Open-Giant-killer Soderling waiting for Borg to thank him

By Julien Pretot

PARIS, May 31 (Reuters) - After sending shockwaves through the tennis world by handing Rafael Nadal his first defeat at the French Open, Robin Soderling was expecting a message of thanks from fellow Swede Bjorn Borg on Sunday.

Soderling ended Nadal's dream of becoming the first player to win five consecutive titles at Roland Garros by beating the Spaniard 6-2 6-7 6-4 7-6.

The defeat ensured the 22-year-old Spaniard would have to be content with sharing the record of winning four Paris titles in a row with Borg -- at least for now.

"I'm expecting a SMS. I'm not going to call him. Hopefully he will call me. That would be great," Soderling told a news conference.

Borg won the French Open six times, in 1974-75 and from 1978 to 81, winning 28 matches in his second winning streak.

Helping Borg had not been on the top of Soderling's priority list when he prepared his match against Nadal.

He first had to believe he could beat the unbeatable.

"I tried to keep telling myself before the match that I had to believe. Of course, I told everybody this is the biggest challenge you can have; playing Nadal, the best claycourt player of all time, best of five sets in Roland Garros," said Soderling.