|
Post by Brinyi on Mar 11, 2006 0:49:23 GMT -5
From the LA Times He lists among his highlights his 1-0 record against his friend and retired countryman, Edberg, winner of six Grand Slam singles titles, whom he beat in a third-round match at the U.S. Open. "When I see him, I always remind him that I dominated him in singles," Bjorkman says. "He, of course, reminds me of the 40 or so practice matches we played, where he won them all."
|
|
|
Post by Brinyi on Apr 3, 2006 20:22:45 GMT -5
Enqvist trying to go out on top
Veteran battles back from injury, ponders retirement By DALE ROBERTSON Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
For the moment, Thomas Enqvist's aching back seems fine. But, as he prepares to launch what he says will be his final comeback, the 32-year-old Swede had to put ice on his sore right foot after an hour-long workout with Donald Young Jr., on Saturday at River Oaks Country Club.
Enqvist's 15-year pro career began not long after Young, the promising American teenager, was born. Enqvist has won more than $10 million on the court and enjoyed a life for which he is "very, very thankful." He could quit today and want for nothing, except one thing.
Tennis.
"I still enjoy playing, very much," Enqvist said as he prepares to return to competition for the first time since November at the River Oaks International exhibition tournament, which starts Monday.
"I love the game as much as I ever did. I'm just hopeful that my body will allow me to play at a level that I expect of myself. If it doesn't ... "
He hesitated to finish the sentence. He didn't want to speak the words.
"Then," he conceded, "this is probably it for me. I don't want to have to keep compensating (for injuries). I've been doing that for too long."
Enqvist has enjoyed a quietly remarkable career, one that should leave him without regrets if 2006 is his final season.
Only four active players — Agassi, Federer, Hewitt and Roddick — have won more tournaments than his 19, and in 1999 he got as high as fourth in the world .
Enqvist is widely respected as a player and extremely well-liked by his peers for his equanimity. There's nothing left for him to prove or, realistically, achieve.
What he's chasing now is purely esoteric, a Zen state if you will. He knows he won't win Wimbledon. But he'd like to play Wimbledon again pain-free and deliver a match — or several — that he's genuinely proud of and that reveals the best tennis he's capable of.
Enqvist's quest is simple: to go out on the top of his game, wherever that leads him in his final tennis chapter.
He fell out of the ATP's top 100 in 2005 for the first time in 13 seasons, and his current ranking is 206th, although he admits he doesn't pay much attention to that.
"My problem is wear and tear, that's all," Enqvist said. "You have an MRI after 15 years on the Tour and you can find so many things wrong. I've had foot and shoulder surgery (in 2000) and then the back problem started last year ... "
He first played River Oaks not long after he reached No. 1 in the world junior rankings, returned to the tournament during a rehab stint in 2001 and played it again last year.
The fact that ATP ranking points aren't at stake this week is irrelevant to him.
It's possible he'll try to qualify for the U.S. Clay Court Championships at Westside Tennis Club next week. He'd prefer, however, to play deep into the River Oaks draw. He wants to stick around long enough to watch an old adversary play.
Pete Sampras faces Robby Ginepri on Thursday in Sampras' first competitive match since he won the 2002 U.S. Open. Sampras beat Enqvist nine times in 11 meetings between 1992 and 2000, but Enqvist won their last match at Indian Wells, Calif., six years ago.
Interestingly, Enqvist is 5-5 lifetime against Andre Agassi, another tennis senior citizen. Agassi is almost four years older than Enqvist and an ongoing source of inspiration.
"Andre's remarkable," he said. "It has been a privilege to play on the Tour at the same time with him and Pete."
|
|
|
Post by Brinyi on Apr 11, 2006 13:30:35 GMT -5
Klüfts succécoach tränar "Pim-Pim" Publicerad 11 april 2006 - 20:14
Joachim "PimPim" Johansson sammarbetar sedan tre månader tillbaka med coachen bakom Carolina Klüft, succétränaren Agne Bergvall.
Bergvall har kontakt med sin nya adept flera gånger i veckan och har blivit fullt ansvarig för Johanssons fysiska utveckling. Just nu handlar det om att "PimPim" ska bli helt kvitt skadeproblem i axel och överarm.
- Jag försöker att strukturera upp hans fysiska träning, så att det blir en långsiktig helhet av det hela, säger Agne Bergvall till Radiosporten.
|
|
|
Post by Brinyi on Apr 19, 2006 10:23:36 GMT -5
TJ is out for 4 months. He took a ball in the eye in practice and detached a retina. "Thomas Johansson has started to practice tennis this week and is helping Jonas Bjorkman with some coaching this week in Monte Carlo. The Swede still cannot see clearly with his left eye, but is making progress and hopes to return in either Rome or Hamburg." -- ATP site
|
|
|
Post by Brinyi on Apr 30, 2006 19:53:10 GMT -5
Finally one of the great mysteries is answered!
"Chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani has given me some advice on the best restaurants to go to. (He is Swedish but his family is from Morocco)."
-- J. Melzer's blog from Casablanca
|
|
|
Post by Brinyi on Sept 18, 2007 10:21:04 GMT -5
Johansson rethinks retirement
Eurosport - Mon, 17 Sep 16:23:00 2007
EXCLUSIVE: Former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson was planning on quitting tennis after this season, but now he has changed his mind.
"I want to be at the top 50 by the end of the year, I should be able to make it," said Johansson, who is training with the rest of the Swedish team for the Davis Cup semi-finals.
Q: You were talking about quitting after this season?
Johansson: "I was going to quit but I have decided to continue playing next year as well. Magnus Norman, who has been training with me for a while, has motivated me to keep going. Thanks to him I enjoy playing tennis again."
Q: What's the secret to your successful teamwork?
Johansson: "We've known each other for many years and he just simple knows how I work."
Q: Does the surface at the Davis Cup semi-final suit you?
Johansson: "Oh yes, definitely. It helps my serve and fits my way of moving on the court."
Q: Will the next season be the last?
Johansson: "We'll see, I'm taking one year at a time and listen to my body. I'm becoming of age."
Q: What are your thoughts on the forthcoming match against the USA?
Johansson: "I'm happy [Joachim Johansson] Pim Pim is back and a shame that Robin [Soderling] can't play, but we're ready. I am looking forward to meeting them."
|
|
|
Post by Brinyi on Dec 8, 2010 16:10:46 GMT -5
Robin Soderling is no longer coached by Magnus Norman, who "wants to spend more time with his family" (like we always believe that line!).
Claudio Pistolesi has agreed to coach Soderling on a three-month trial basis. Pistolesi worked with Michael Berrer this year. His former pupils included ex-wife Smashnova (they are now divorced in every sense of the word), and, briefly, M.Seles.
|
|
|
Post by The Chloe on Dec 9, 2010 1:43:57 GMT -5
Did this thread really go three years without a post?
|
|