Robin Soderling’s illness sidelines him from the Australian Open – Tennis News
Former world number four, Robin Soderling of Sweden, has announces that he will not be fit for playing the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, the Australian Open, next month. The 13th ranked tennis player has been sidelined from professional
tennis for a significant part of 2011 ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) season due to persistent illness.
Rated at number four in the ATP World Rankings earlier this year, the Swede has fallen to the 13th spot by the year end for not playing a single match since September. Soderling was suffering from mononucleosis (glandular fever) and he has cited
that his rate of recovery was rather slower than usual, keeping him aloof of professional tennis for more than three months.
Soderling is determined to make an impactful return to the tennis arenas next season but won’t be playing the Grand Slam Down Under. The 27-year-old played just 47 matches this year, standing victorious in 38 and won four ATP championship titles till September.
Last time he was seen in action was in Bastad, winning an ATP World Tour 250 title on his home soil by defeating David Ferrer of Spain in the final. Soderling has not even started practicing till now but he has cited that he will return to tennis courts in
January and will be fit for entering the professional circuit the following month.
“I am very sorry for being away for so long and for not giving many updates but my recovery has been longer than expected,” expressed Soderling on his twitter account. “I am feeling better with each day but it will still take some time before I can start
practicing in full speed. My goal is to start with practice in January and I hope for tournament comeback in February but at this stage it is hard to know when and where. I hope my body will allow me to do that.”
Soderling was seen in sublime form during the 2011 ATP season, taking off with a title victory at Brisbane International and then posting his best performance at the Australian Open by reaching the fourth round of the mega event. The 13th ranked
Swede then bagged back-to-back championship titles at Rotterdam and Marseille to consolidate his position at the fourth spot in world rankings. He was also semi-finalist at the Roland Garros this year and then eventually bagged his fourth title at Bastad before
being stung by illness.
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