Robin Soderling. Will he ever return?

[Front242]

He's got a good business going now selling his balls (not like that! ) and as tournament director so I doubt he's planning a comeback just for the money. He clearly misses the limelight and can see there's quite a big void out there right now. Novak is leagues ahead of everyone but below him it's very much as open as it's been in years.

 

[I.Haychew]

The best thing about Novak beating Rafa (for me) is that this makes Soderling a little less relevant in his retirement. No more "the only guy to beat Rafa at RG."

Of course, Front, feel free to keep up your hunt for BigFoot, but Soderling isn't coming back.

I agree that Soderling ain't comin' back. But...He's still the only guy to beat Folks at the French Open when Folks was in his "prime".

...but not when he was healthy :snicker

...at least he wasn't old and washed-up!

Just kidding, Djokovic fans.

 

[Kieran]

Realistically, if Soderling comes back, where does he start, tournament wise? I mean, he's got no ranking to speak of. Would he be allowed into challengers? Would he be given wild cards? Free entry into qualies?

 

[I.Haychew]

Realistically, if Soderling comes back, where does he start, tournament wise? I mean, he's got no ranking to speak of. Would he be allowed into challengers? Would he be given wild cards? Free entry into qualies?

Good question. I'm guessing that protected rankings don't last half a decade.

 

[tented]

Realistically, if Soderling comes back, where does he start, tournament wise? I mean, he's got no ranking to speak of. Would he be allowed into challengers? Would he be given wild cards? Free entry into qualies?

Good question. I'm guessing that protected rankings don't last half a decade.

From the ATP Rulebook:

"Expiration Date. A player has three (3) years from the time that the injury occurred to activate his protected ranking. A player who does not compete in any tennis event, including Special Events – Exhibitions, for a period of three (3) years from the date of his injury will have his entry protection revoked."


Since Soderling hasn't played a match since July, 2011, protected ranking is no longer a possibility.

 

[Kieran]

So that's part of it now become clear. The other part is, where does he start again, tournament-wise?

 

[tented]

So that's part of it now become clear. The other part is, where does he start again, tournament-wise?

I searched for an answer in the rulebook, but couldn't find one. I'm guessing he would have to play challenger events until his ranking is high enough to get into the main tour, plus try to get wildcards.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

So that's part of it now become clear. The other part is, where does he start again, tournament-wise?

I searched for an answer in the rulebook, but couldn't find one. I'm guessing he would have to play challenger events until his ranking is high enough to get into the main tour, plus try to get wildcards.

They have to start from scratch as far as I know. He will start with no ranking and then has to slowly work his way up, first by playing in challenger events. He can request for wildcards from the tournaments and they will give at their own discretion. I suppose RG would give him a wild card.
I suppose most European 250 and 500 events would be willing to give him a wild card. As the wild cards tend to be given on a nationalistic and regional basis, he will have more success in tourneys that are closer to Sweden.

It is not as difficult to come back up, assuming he is fit and has game. Recent example is
Victor Troiki. He got banned for an year and due to yearly ranking system started from nowhere
but is now a seeded player.

 

[Front242]

Yeah was going to cite Troicki but then again a year off v 5. Big difference. Still though, if he comes back fit I could see him rising pretty well as his legs are missing 5 years of tennis mileage despite his actual age.

 

[Kieran]

In fairness, it would be virtually impossible for him to get anywhere on a comeback. The guy is out of shape, match-wise. He's going to have huge issues getting up to speed, he's going to be rusty to the nth degree. He'll be like Borg coming back with his old wooden racket. I hope he comes back just to say he did, and for enjoyment and to prove something to himself. But any expectation of getting into the top 100 would be fairly ambitious, I reckon...

 

[GameSetAndMath]

If he comes back, he will be able to get into top 100 or to say it in other words, if he is not fit enough, to be able to make it to top 100, there is no point in coming back.

Besides fitness, one needs a lot of motivation to get back to top 100. After "been there done that", it is more difficult to labor through lower strata of the circuit unless you have extreme motivation.

 

[Kieran]

If he comes back, he will be able to get into top 100 or to say it in other words, if he is not fit enough, to be able to make it to top 100, there is no point in coming back.

Besides fitness, one needs a lot of motivation to get back to top 100. After "been there done that", it is more difficult to labor through lower strata of the circuit unless you have extreme motivation.

I think the point would be just to come back. To prove to himself he can, and not to end his career that way. I applaud him for trying and hope he does very well out of it...

 

[Front242]

It can be done. Kimiko Date-Krumm still beats players way younger than her and she's 44 now. I know WTA is nothing like the ATP but I'm pretty sure if his fitness is up to par he'd at least crack the top 100.

 

[Kieran]

It can be done. Kimiko Date-Krumm still beats players way younger than her and she's 44 now. I know WTA is nothing like the ATP but I'm pretty sure if his fitness is up to par he'd at least crack the top 100.

Wouldn't it be incredible to see him make a slam draw, and play a top seed on centre? I think that alone would make it worth his while to come back...

 

[Front242]

Only if he won and it was Nadal

 

[Kieran]

Only if he won and it was Nadal

He coulda done it this year without any training!

 

[I.Haychew]

Only if he won and it was Nadal

He coulda done it this year without any training!

Take THAT, Djokovic fans!
EDIT:
Gotta add the smiley face thing or peeps might lose their minds.

 

[Kieran]

Only if he won and it was Nadal

He coulda done it this year without any training!

Take THAT, Djokovic fans!
EDIT:
Gotta add the smiley face thing or peeps might lose their minds.

That's it! There's been many a truth concealed behind a well-selected smiley... :snicker

 

[GameSetAndMath]

It can be done. Kimiko Date-Krumm still beats players way younger than her and she's 44 now. I know WTA is nothing like the ATP but I'm pretty sure if his fitness is up to par he'd at least crack the top 100.

Forget Kimiko. Clijster came back to action after giving birth to child. She had no ranking as she was out for couple of years or more. She played three warm up tourneys or so and then jumped into USO and won it. Only in WTA :cover

 

[Moxie]

Agassi is an example of someone who fell so far off the charts that he had to start playing challengers again, after being a multi-Slam winner. It can be done. I think he'll get some WCs, as he's at least a minor marquee name, and a curiosity, given the Rafa-win fame. And it would be smart to hit some 250s where he may take out low-hanging fruit, as he gets traction. But I'm wondering this: It is not inexpensive to mount a serious tennis come-back. Even if he does it with only a coach, no physio, he's going to spend into his nest-egg to mount a comeback. He will probably want to see some ranking results pretty fast. Any talk of a coach?