Simon Aspelin calls it quits; plays last final at Bastad – Tennis News
Doubles specialist Swede Simon Aspelin announced to retire from professional tennis following his doubles final performance at home tournament 2011 SkiStar Swedish Open last Sunday. One of Sweden’s best tennis player and currently
ranked at 45 in the doubles ranking, Aspelin cited the gruelling travel schedule that he has been required to maintain as the major reason behind his decision to call it a day.
Aspelin chose Båstad as his last bastion because of its sentimental value. The Swede said, “It feels good to come back to Båstad. I’ve played here 12-13 times before. This place is special to me.” Despite an outstanding performance
throughout last week that eventually brought him to the doubles final, his last match didn’t quite go his way. The 37-year-old partnered with Andreas Siljestrom finished runner-up to the duo - Horia Tecau and Robert Lindstedt who won 6-3, 6-3.
Before officially kick starting his ATP career Aspelin played for his alma matter, the Pepperdine University in Malibu, California where he was amongst the only two players to earn All-American title for four consecutive seasons.
He was inducted into the Pepperdine Hall of Fame in 2010.
Upon graduation, Aspelin turned pro and went on to register his first ATP title at the Marseille Open in February 2000. Over the years the doubles player has gradually built up a cache of 12 ATP Titles – amongst them 5 are on clay,
5 on hard surface and one each on grass and carpet. Amongst these are three coveted ATP International Series Gold titles too, which he won at Memphis in 2005, at Hamburg in 2009 and at Dubai in 2010.
Amongst Aspelin’s major career triumphs is his win at the US Open in 2007, his first and only Grand Slam title to date. He partnered with Austrian Julian Knowle to defeat Lukáš Dlouhý and Pavel Vízner 7-5, 6-4. On their way to
the finals, the duo surprised everyone by defeating top seed Bryan Brothers in the quarter finals. Following this win, Aspelin recorded a career high doubles ranking of No. 7 in early 2008.
Responding to a question posed by the ATP website, Aspelin said, “I think so definitely. Winning a Grand Slam is the biggest thing you can do as a tennis player. And also the silver medal at the Olympics in Beijing with Thomas
Johansson. I think those two results are for me, the ones that stand out the most.” In the 2008 Olympics, Aspelin and fellow compatriot Johansson bowed out in the final to the outstanding duo from Switzerland – Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka.
Aspelin has also been a constant part of the Swedish Davis Cup team since his debut in 2001 against Russia.
Aspelin had partnered with Australian Paul Hanley for the Wimbledon this year. They made a flamboyant departure in their third round match when they pushed World No. 1 and top seed twins’ duo Bob and Mike Bryan to the verge of
defeat.
The retired Swede is looking forward to a blissful retired life so that he can make up for the lost time with his family. Speaking after the match at Bastad, Aspelin said “The feelings are mixed but I’ve been looking forward to
this for a long time so I can settle down and spend more time at home...I just want to relax for a few weeks.”
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