THE ICE KING MELTS

Between the rain delays and the ferociousness of  fellow countryman Robin Soderling,  Roger Federer could NOT catch a break.

Soderling defeated Federer ( 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4) in a relishing victory, since he lost to Federer in Paris last year at the final.

“It cannot be much better, huh?” Soderling said in an on-court interview.

Using a strong serve and steely nerve, Soderling kept Federer off balance with his power. Soderling had been 0-12 against Federer.

It ended Federer’s record streak of semifinal appearances at Grand Slam events at 23. And it could knock Federer out of his world No. 1 perch. Nadal will replace him if he wins the tournament.

Soderling will play Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic. Berdych, the 15th seed, beat No. 11 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, 6-2.

Rain occasionally dampened a riveting rematch of the 2009 men’s final. Federer and Soderling played deep into the third set before rain stopped play for about 75 minutes.

The players returned at about 6:50 p.m., local time, tied at a set apiece, with Federer serving in a 5-5 tie in the third. Federer double-faulted at deuce, then was broken on the next point. Soderling kept his big serve steady for the set, finishing with an ace. Federer turned his palms up as if to ask, What can I do?

Soderling gained prominence and confidence last year when he defeated Nadal here. Nadal had won 4 consecutive titles and 31 straight matches before Soderling, as the No. 23 seed, beat him in the fourth round.

Soderling lost the final to Federer, 6-1, 7-6, 6-4. Federer completed his career Grand Slam, and Soderling began an assault on the world rankings.

A No. 5 seed this year, Soderling stormed the bracket again, barely tested until a four-set fourth-round victory over No. 10 Marin Cilic.

“I think I played better and better for every match, and today I played really, really well,” Soderling said.

Federer, who never seems to break a sweat even in the biggest matches, dapperly fended off four challengers before finding himself facing a familiar opponent — a familiar victim — again.

Among their 12 meetings, Federer and Soderling have played at five of the past eight Grand Slam tournaments. Only once in those events, at the 2009 United States Open, had Soderling won a set. But he won three of four on Tuesday.

-- details The New York Times.