Rafael Nadal [Images] showed why he is a triple Grand Slam champion after taking a 2-0 lead in the final set of his rain-interrupted third-round match against Sweden's Robin Soderling.

The French Open champion looked down and out after squandering a match point and dropping the third and fourth sets against the world number 28.

The match, originally scheduled for last Saturday, was suspended for rain at 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 4-6, 2-0 on Monday.

The Spaniard began slowly and saved a break point in his opening service game as he struggled to find his range. He eventually broke the big-serving Soderling in the seventh game with a forehand passing shot and went on to take the set.

Nadal, who lost to Roger Federer [Images] in last year's final, began to vary his shots, showing some deft touches at the net and made the decisive break for the second set when Soderling netted a backhand.

However, Soderling then got the measure of Nadal and at 7-6 in the third set tiebreak, the second seed sent his favoured forehand long -- a call which was confirmed by Hawkeye.

Soderling took the set 9-7 with an ace some two hours later after a rain delay. It was the first time Nadal had dropped a set this tournament.

The Swede kept up the pressure in the fourth set, outfoxing the sweat-drenched Nadal whose timing had deserted him.

However, Nadal, one of the fittest players on tour, broke for a 2-0 lead in the fifth set before the rain began falling again and play was called off for the day.

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