1 Jun 2009

Nadal out of French Open

7:30 am on 1 June 2009

World tennis number one Rafael Nadal is out of the French Open.

It was his first defeat at Roland Garros.

His hopes of winning a record fifth successive French Open title were dashed by Robin Soderling, 22, of Sweden, who won 6-2 6-7 6-4 7-6 in the fourth round.

Nadal says he played badly and lost to a better player.

Soderling lost to the Spaniard in three previous meetings.

Nadal had not lost a set at the event in Paris since the 2007 final against Roger Federer.