Tennis: Soderling still hopeful of a return

Robin Soderling has been out of action for almost two years now.

Swedish tennis star Robin Soderling, the former world number four sidelined by illness for nearly two years, said in an interview published on Friday that he still hopes to return to the circuit.

“I will come back when I feel 100 percent but I don’t know when. That’s how it is, unfortunately,” he was quoted as saying by the Aftonbladet daily.

Soderling — the only man to have beaten Spain’s eight-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal on the clay at Roland Garros — has not played in competition since the Swedish Open tournament in July 2011.

Since then he has been hit by a series of health problems, including glandular fever, which is still affecting him.

The 28-year-old, who turned professional in 2001, told the newspaper that he was not yet fit enough to endure the rigours of competition tennis at the highest level.

“It’s hard to recover at a snail’s pace,” he explained.

“In the beginning it was difficult. When I went to bed every night, I told myself: perhaps I’ll be better tomorrow.

“That lasted a week, a month… I got another perspective on the passage of time.”

The Swede said he had made enough money during his career so far not to have to worry about working again.

According to the atpworldtour.com web site, he has won more than $10.4 million (£6.6 million, 7.8 million euros) in prize money in singles and doubles.

“It’s an extraordinary feeling to be able to choose what you do, rather than having to do it. I’ve been spoiled,” he added.