Robin Soderling. Will he ever return?

[Front242]

Was searching last night for news on any possible comeback for Soderling but nothing really in the way of recent news. I guess recently becoming a dad isn't gonna be a step towards a comeback but who knows. What's the general consensus? Anyone think he'll ever comeback (apart from possibly the veteran tour) or is he basically now retired due to his bad case of mono/glandular fever that caused his early demise when ranked world number #4?

Who knows what he may have achieved if he was still playing now. Such a shame. One of the few players genuinely able to challenge the top players, even at their best. He's sadly missed, especially during clay court season.

Here's the most I could find. Nothing in the way of recent news on his own website.

http://www.tennisalternative.com/tennisspinster-waiting-for-robin-soderlings-comeback-rn2024.html

 

[I.Haychew]

I'll be extremely (pleasantly) surprised if he comes back. Would love to see it, but I just don't see it happening.

 

[Front242]

I'll be extremely (pleasantly) surprised if he comes back. Would love to see it, but I just don't see it happening.

Sadly me either at this stage

 

[Moxie]

It's getting close to 2 years since he's played on the tour. If you think about it, he'd have to invest not only effort into a comeback, but real money. (Trainer, travel, perhaps coach.) And he'd hope to rely on some WCs so as not to play always qualifying rounds. He'd have to be really motivated, and fancy his chances at a comeback to risk his nest-egg, at this point, IMO. However, he's not yet 28, and he has to be looking at Haas. If he really wants to play, he might just put up the effort, provided that he's in training shape. I'm surprised that there's been no inkling, though. That makes it seem less likely.

 

[kskate2]

During IW or Miami, one of the TC commentators stated he was attempting another comeback fairly soon. They didn't site a source so I don't know how reliable that statement is.

 

[Front242]

During IW or Miami, one of the TC commentators stated he was attempting another comeback fairly soon. They didn't site a source so I don't know how reliable that statement is.

Sincerely hope so. He was a force to be reckoned with when he reached world number 4.

 

[Moxie]

During IW or Miami, one of the TC commentators stated he was attempting another comeback fairly soon. They didn't site a source so I don't know how reliable that statement is.

Sincerely hope so. He was a force to be reckoned with when he reached world number 4.

And that's the first inkling I've heard of what he's up to, as to a comeback, so that's potentially good news. It'll be a tough road back, but I would certainly have thought he'd be at Del Potro/Berdych level of threat, had he not been side-lined. If he could come back to (near) his previous level, and with Federer aging out, and Nadal passing prime, he must imagine he could get might in the mix in a significant way. IF he can navigate the comeback.

 

[lindseywagners]

History is full of stories like this - talent but some circumstance intervenes. it's funny the way things work. Thanks for the post.

 

[Didi]

Sincerely hope so. He was a force to be reckoned with when he reached world number 4.

I liked Robin too but I think you suffer from nostalgia here. Soderling was never a force outside of Roland Garros. He never made it to the semis of Melbourne, Wimbledon or the US Open. That's quite poor if you really think about it and when you keep in mind that the likes of Del Potro, Berdych, Tsonga and even Ferrer made the semis of at least two different slams. On top of that he never made it to the Quarterfinals in Melbourne and only once at Wimbledon. That's really a very poor overall record for a world #4. We will remember him for his heroics in Paris but he never showed the consistency of Delpo, Berdych, Tsonga and Ferrer.

 

[tented]

Sincerely hope so. He was a force to be reckoned with when he reached world number 4.

I liked Robin too but I think you suffer from nostalgia here. Soderling was never a force outside of Roland Garros. He never made it to the semis of Melbourne, Wimbledon or the US Open. That's quite poor if you really think about it and when you keep in mind that the likes of Del Potro, Berdych, Tsonga and even Ferrer made the semis of at least two different slams. On top of that he never made it to the Quarterfinals in Melbourne and only once at Wimbledon. That's really a very poor overall record for a world #4. We will remember him for his heroics in Paris but he never showed the consistency of Delpo, Berdych, Tsonga and Ferrer.

You make several good points, Didi. In fact, as I was reading it, I was thinking, "OK, how did he get to No. 4?"

Obviously he was doing better at the non-GS events in order to get the points needed for such a high ranking, but it is interesting that you point out his relative lack of success in general at the Majors.

 

[Denis]

Soderling is the man who defeated Nadal at Paris. That counterbalances his lack of good results at other slams I guess. I wish him well, but not nostalgic or a fan myself.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

^ he did do well at the next-best level indeed, as he was one of the few MS1000 winners not called FedalDjoray. that said, he did do it in Paris (frankophilia, much?). that reminds me that i once thought it'd be interesting to compare the overall success levels of Paris 1000 winners to that of those winning other Masters 1000 tournaments, suspecting a slight drop-off in that late-in-the-year event. but one poster would have 1) seen this only at a dig at the greatest tournament ever, won by the one and only greatest man ever to pick up a racquet and 2) would've ignored the justified conclusions anyway.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

short version: since 2005, Paris Indoors has been won just three times by someone who's won either a Slam or the YEC (including the latter since it's the biggest indoor event), meaning five out of eight were won by players who never won the big ones. at ALL other masters 1000 events combined in the same time span, only three titles (out of almost 70) went to such "second-tier" players.

so if you want to get lucky with a MS1000, i think your chances are best in fall and even better in Paris.

 

[Didi]

Soderling is the man who defeated Nadal at Paris. That counterbalances his lack of good results at other slams I guess.

I'm not sure about this. I get your point though in that he obviously was never going to match that result (win over Nadal in Paris) at Grand Slam stage for the rest of his career anyway but if you look at it from an insolated point of view, you would just expect more from a #4/5 player in the world.

He made it to the 4th round of Melbourne once, that's his best result down under. That would be shocking even for someone like Wawrinka. In his prime years 2009 and 2010 he lost in the 2nd resp. 1st round of Melbourne. That's poor, regardless of beating Nadal in Paris or not. I do not blame him for losing to Nadal and Federer in Wimbledon and at the US Open over the years. That's bad luck with draws.

But the fact remains that outside of Paris he never made it past the quarterfinal stage, even when the stars aligned for him with good draws. That's hardly the definition of a force. Berdych and Ferrer made it to 3 different Slam semi-finals. Delpo and Tsonga to 2 each and the Frenchman almost to 3 had Novak not saved 4 matchpoints last year in Paris.

While johnsteinbeck is right that he won the Paris-Bercy Masters, it's important to notice that he made a total of 4 semis at masters events (including YEC) in his entire career. Now don't get me wrong, that's not bad at all in the era of the Big 4 but clearly inferior to Delpo (9), Ferrer (13), Berdych (13) and Tsonga (6). At the end of the day these are just stats and who knows what would have happened, had Robin not been forced to stop playing Tennis. We also would have had a bigger sample size of his Prime for further data, fair enough. But as things stand, he was incredibly inconsistent and almost a non-factor outside of Paris, no matter how you look at it.

 

[Denis]

^ Yes, good points. Overall, his results are a bit below par for a top 4 I guess. But maybe it is also because we are accustomed to such a level of consistancy by the top 8 players in the world.

 

[Kieran]

I think his results around the slams are mixed, but I actually liked Sod for his spite against Nadal and the resolution he showed when they played. His mimicking Rafa at Wimbledon - as well as scaring the crap out of him over five very expensive days - was the kind of thing I wish we'd see more of.

It's getting late in the day for him, however, and it'll be hard for him to get back to the very top. But I'd wish him well and I reckon the game needs fellows with attitude, even if it was mainly at Rafa's expense. Too many players look like losing doesn't hurt them enough...

 

[Front242]

In fairness I think he was just coming to the height of his powers before his untimely demise and the best may have been yet to come the following year. Many older guys are having late blooming career results. Check out the Swedish Open 2011 highlights. He absolutely mangled Berdych 6-1 6-0 (!) in the semi final and then Ferrer 6-2 6-2 in the final. This is a clay tournament and those 2 are right up with the best on clay. Anyway, I'll still hold out some hope he returns some day in the not too distant future.

 

[shawnbm]

I think his results around the slams are mixed, but I actually liked Sod for his spite against Nadal and the resolution he showed when they played. His mimicking Rafa at Wimbledon - as well as scaring the crap out of him over five very expensive days - was the kind of thing I wish we'd see more of.

It's getting late in the day for him, however, and it'll be hard for him to get back to the very top. But I'd wish him well and I reckon the game needs fellows with attitude, even if it was mainly at Rafa's expense. Too many players look like losing doesn't hurt them enough...

Oh, Brother Kieran, you really must have enjoyed the give and take of the Connors-McEnroe-Lendl years! Tennis with attitude--it can't be beat.

 

[Front242]

Well, he still wants to come back but says this year is unlikely. Still, with the way Tommy Haas is playing it's inspiring him, so if he makes a successful comeback he may have quite a few years left in him.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2013/05/23/robin-soderling-mononucleosis-rafael-nadal-french-open/2354751/

 

[Mastoor]

Yes, he will. Robin will be in No1e's box for the semifinal.