Robin Soderling. Will he ever return?

[Front242]

Good to hear he hasn't retired yet. Just been appointed the tournament director of the Stockholm/Bastad Open in Sweden.

https://twitter.com/search?had_popular=true&q=Soderling

 

[brokenshoelace]

Good to hear he hasn't retired yet. Just been appointed the tournament director of the Stockholm/Bastad Open in Sweden.

https://twitter.com/search?had_popular=true&q=Soderling

Next thing you know Soderling will be running for president in Sweden while still refusing to officially call it a day. How many player/tournament directors do you know of?

 

[Kieran]

Eh, there was one in Serbia, and er, I think that's it!

 

[Front242]

Good to hear he hasn't retired yet. Just been appointed the tournament director of the Stockholm/Bastad Open in Sweden.

https://twitter.com/search?had_popular=true&q=Soderling

Next thing you know Soderling will be running for president in Sweden while still refusing to officially call it a day. How many player/tournament directors do you know of?

Well, it's still not looking likely but who knows Probably he still gets endorsement money by not retiring officially so he's a clever boy. Seeing as it's a small 250 event I can't imagine it takes the whole year to organize and would leave time to practice if his health enabled him to do so. Still doubt he'll return though.

 

[Moxie]

^ Do you really think he gets much in endorsements now? Would YOU pay him to wear your clothes or use your racquets when he hasn't played in nearly 3 years? And when he's so under the radar that we can barely find an article in Swedish? I wouldn't. He's doing commentary, and he's going to run a tournament. There's nothing in there that sounds like "preparing to mount a serious comeback" to me. But he certainly knows how to tease it out.

 

[lacatch]

I think Moxie is still a little sore at the man

 

[Moxie]

I think Moxie is still a little sore at the man

Not at all! I'd be happy to see him back. To say that the signs indicate it's not happening is not wishing him the worst…it's facing reality. You assume I harbor a grudge. I've always said that I was pleased that Robbie capitalized on his big upset over Nadal and turned himself into a top player. And no one is happy that he was side-lined by illness.

 

[isabelle]

What a breaking news...Stockholm's director, no use to make a fuss with it. Did he really need a presser to announce it ??? I don't think so

 

[GameSetAndMath]

^ Do you really think he gets much in endorsements now? Would YOU pay him to wear your clothes or use your racquets when he hasn't played in nearly 3 years? And when he's so under the radar that we can barely find an article in Swedish? I wouldn't. He's doing commentary, and he's going to run a tournament. There's nothing in there that sounds like "preparing to mount a serious comeback" to me. But he certainly knows how to tease it out.

I agree that there are no signs of comeback.

As per endorsements, sometimes these contracts are multi-year contracts and so
it is quite possible that a player might get paid after prime time if they entered into
a multi-year contract before. If there is a provision in the contract that the player
should not be retired officially, a player can just hold off the announcement until
he milks all the cash out.

 

[Moxie]

^ Do you really think he gets much in endorsements now? Would YOU pay him to wear your clothes or use your racquets when he hasn't played in nearly 3 years? And when he's so under the radar that we can barely find an article in Swedish? I wouldn't. He's doing commentary, and he's going to run a tournament. There's nothing in there that sounds like "preparing to mount a serious comeback" to me. But he certainly knows how to tease it out.

I agree that there are no signs of comeback.

As per endorsements, sometimes these contracts are multi-year contracts and so
it is quite possible that a player might get paid after prime time if they entered into
a multi-year contract before. If there is a provision in the contract that the player
should not be retired officially, a player can just hold off the announcement until
he milks all the cash out.

That's a good point, and likely the best explanation.

 

[Front242]

^ Do you really think he gets much in endorsements now? Would YOU pay him to wear your clothes or use your racquets when he hasn't played in nearly 3 years? And when he's so under the radar that we can barely find an article in Swedish? I wouldn't. He's doing commentary, and he's going to run a tournament. There's nothing in there that sounds like "preparing to mount a serious comeback" to me. But he certainly knows how to tease it out.

I agree that there are no signs of comeback.

As per endorsements, sometimes these contracts are multi-year contracts and so
it is quite possible that a player might get paid after prime time if they entered into
a multi-year contract before. If there is a provision in the contract that the player
should not be retired officially, a player can just hold off the announcement until
he milks all the cash out.

Exactly. He was world number 4 before he had to stop playing and I'm thinking that most certainly buys multi year contracts for big money.

 

[tented]

From the New York Times: "A Tennis Career Changeover for Robin Soderling"

 

[kskate2]

^ Reading that article seems so surreal that it's been 3 years since he played. I know he has to be entirely deflated when he sees the likes of Stan & Cilic winning slams while he sits on his sofa watching.

 

[Front242]

^ Reading that article seems so surreal that it's been 3 years since he played. I know he has to be entirely deflated when he sees the likes of Stan & Cilic winning slams while he sits on his sofa watching.

So true. He must surely be thinking that could've been me and it most definitely could with the dips in form by the top players the last few years.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

From the New York Times: "A Tennis Career Changeover for Robin Soderling"

Thank you posting.Usually the case after you have Mono,it can take up to six months to get over it,if not CFS sets in.To my way of thinking,also I have had first hand expierence with having Mono,then not been able to recover,after my specialist first told me to expect to take at least six months before getting well again.Of course many people can contact Mono and not realize they have had it,it can be a slight dose of Mono.I also felt for Mario Ancic,another player who had to retire,as he could not recover,after he had Mono.It is a dreadful disease,let me tell you.I was bed ridden for 1 year,my husband had to take time off work to help me.Thank goodness I went to a specialist in this field,I did recover and can now say I am healthy once again,Health is the most important thing in your life,you cant buy it,you can only try to preserve it.

 

[TsarMatt]

^ Reading that article seems so surreal that it's been 3 years since he played. I know he has to be entirely deflated when he sees the likes of Stan & Cilic winning slams while he sits on his sofa watching.

It's such a shame that one of the most 'interesting' players on tour had to be riddled with such unluckiness.

I loved watching Soderling play because he really provided a cool alternative to the other top players.

 

[fedfan]

I think Moxie is still a little sore at the man

Not to intercept, but I am.

SOB ruined my one and only trip to Paris.

 

[Kieran]

I always admired Soderlings attitude. The guy was no patsy. He didn't gurn for the camera and take his tickles under the chin when he lost. He was an exception to a generation of players who seemed to settle "richly" into satisfaction with their lot. Sod could be a spiteful git - especially against Rafa - but that's what competition is about. He made a match of it, and he never gave up easily. He was rare among the also-rans.

Glad to see him doing something again, but Fashionista brought it home to me in her post about how debilitating and difficult an illness this is. It was sad to read how knackered Sod was after training a few times earlier in the year, but it's great that the tournament in Stockholm found a role for him... :clap

 

[El Dude]

Hard to feel bad for a guy wearing a $40,000 watch (a Patek Philippe Nautilus).

But yeah, I do feel for the guy and it is our loss, as for a bit there he was vying with Andy Murray for "best of the rest."

I think he will always be remembered as The Guy Who Beat Nadal at Roland Garros. Of course someone else will do it at some point, but considering that it was in the heart of Rafa's dominance it is no small feat, that.

cue excuses as to why Rafa lost :snigger :lolz:

 

[Kieran]

Ah El Dude, no kneed for that! :snigger