|
Post by Lee on Feb 28, 2004 19:44:25 GMT -5
What a turnaround year for the Swedes. With 2003 a disasterous year where no Swede raised a trophy, 2004 comes out strong for the Swedes. First, defeated the defending DC Australia and now, the young guns start winning tournaments.
I believe Soderling wll likely be the 2nd Swede to win a title after Joachim Johansson this year.
|
|
|
Post by TennisHack on Feb 29, 2004 11:31:45 GMT -5
Guess he'll have to wait. I'm kinda mad that of all people Hrbaty defeated him but what can you do. Still, it is exciting to see the young ones finally stepping up
|
|
|
Post by TennisHack on Feb 29, 2004 12:09:48 GMT -5
LOL, from tennis-x:
Swedes Joachim Johansson and Robin Soderling grew up playing together and sharing the same coach. Give that man whoever he is a raise...
|
|
|
Post by TennisHack on Feb 29, 2004 17:18:58 GMT -5
Some pictures from Marseille: Sweden's Robin Soderling returns a backhand to France's Arnaud Clement during their semifinal match of the Open 13 tennis tournament in Marseille, southern France, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2004. Soderling won, 6-3, 6-3. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) Sweden's Robin Soderling reacts after defeating France's Arnaud Clement at the Open 13 tennis tournament in Marseille, southern France, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2004. Soderling won, 6-3, 6-3. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) Sweden's Robin Soderling reacts after defeating France's Arnaud Clement at the Open 13 tennis tournament in Marseille, southern France, Saturday Feb.28, 2004. Soderling won, 6-3, 6-3. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)
|
|
|
Post by TennisHack on Feb 29, 2004 17:21:53 GMT -5
Sweden's Robin Soderling uses his towel during his final match of the Open 13 tennis tournament against Slovakia's Dominik Hrbaty in Marseille, southern France, Sunday, Feb.29, 2004. Hrbaty won, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) Sweden's Robin Soderling returns the ball to Slovakia's Dominik Hrbaty during their final match of the Open 13 tennis tournament in Marseille, southern France, Sunday, Feb.29, 2004. Hrbaty won, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.(AP Photo/Claude Paris)
|
|
|
Post by TennisHack on Feb 29, 2004 19:56:08 GMT -5
Now that his hair has settled down Robin is starting to look pretty cute Sweden's Robin Soderling reacts after a missing point during his final tennis match of the Marseille ATP tournament against Slovakia's Dominik Hrbaty, 29 February 2004. Hrbaty won 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. AFP PHOTO BORIS HORVAT Sweden's Robin Soderling holds his trophy at the end of his final tennis match of the Marseille ATP tournament against Slovakia's Dominik Hrbaty, 29 February 2004. Hrbaty won 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. AFP PHOTO BORIS HORVAT
|
|
|
Post by TennisHack on Apr 9, 2004 14:56:33 GMT -5
Jonas Bjorkman from Sweden returns a shot back to Mardy Fish of the United States, during the Davis Cup Friday, April 9, 2004, in Delray Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Mitchell) Jonas Bjorkman from Sweden returns a hit back to Mardy Fish during the Davis Cup Friday, April 9, 2004, in Delray Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Mitchell)
|
|
|
Post by Aphex on May 26, 2004 3:08:34 GMT -5
Gossip re Vinciguerra: he was arrested by the police for being involved in a fight at a Malmö night-club. He was released later the same night. I don't know if he's under suspicion, he says he didn't do anything (of course ). I love it when athletes gets into shape at the bar!
|
|
|
Post by fatboy aphex on May 30, 2004 5:32:22 GMT -5
Magnus Norman news: he'll be an expert commentator for Swedish Eurosport second week of RG. He still has hopes for a comeback on tour though.
|
|
|
Post by fatboy aphex on Jun 4, 2004 1:41:23 GMT -5
Swedish ex-tennispros as TV co-hosts: Jan Gunnarsson(SVT)-top 30 late 80's. doesn't really show in his ramblings. you can't actually tell he's been a pro. Nicklas Kulti(tv4+)-the junior star who never delivered as a senior. mr Know-it-all(he thinks). kind of arrogant as a co-host. Magnus Larsson(tv4+)-his cool bohemian personality shines through. this guy is intelligent. his "only possible on clay, only possible on clay" talk during Hamburg SF and F is already classic in my world. will probably never be heard again since the people at tv4 are too stupid to recognize quality. Magnus Norman(Eurosport)-it shows too much that this is what he wants to do when he quits tennis. but pretty good.
|
|
|
Post by Patrik Sjöberg on Jun 11, 2004 11:53:20 GMT -5
Swedish ex-tennispros as TV co-hosts: Jan Gunnarsson(SVT)-top 30 late 80's. doesn't really show in his ramblings. you can't actually tell he's been a pro. Nicklas Kulti(tv4+)-the junior star who never delivered as a senior. mr Know-it-all(he thinks). kind of arrogant as a co-host. Magnus Larsson(tv4+)-his cool bohemian personality shines through. this guy is intelligent. his "only possible on clay, only possible on clay" talk during Hamburg SF and F is already classic in my world. will probably never be heard again since the people at tv4 are too stupid to recognize quality. Magnus Norman(Eurosport)-it shows too much that this is what he wants to do when he quits tennis. but pretty good. Thanks for that analysis I think Mikael Pernfors and Lundgren would be great commentators. I think they should get Kent Carlsson doing Wimbledon and criticising the volleying skills. If you could get some Carlsson videos, that would be very very impressive. Tell me about the Larsson speech, that sounds so fantastic.
|
|
|
Post by fatboy aphex on Jun 11, 2004 17:08:09 GMT -5
Thanks for that analysis I think Mikael Pernfors and Lundgren would be great commentators. I think they should get Kent Carlsson doing Wimbledon and criticising the volleying skills. If you could get some Carlsson videos, that would be very very impressive. Tell me about the Larsson speech, that sounds so fantastic. Maybe I exaggerated, but when someone intelligent and reasonably eloquent as Larsson suddenly gets on sports TV you get a chock of exhiliration. It wasn't as much a speech but whenever there was a really good play he said to the host, a real dumb-ass, "only on clay, only possibly on clay". And you know, it felt like the truth was finally on air after months and years of Kulti and Gunnarsson's at best cliché rants.
|
|
|
Post by TennisHack on Jun 14, 2004 21:25:20 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by TennisHack on Jun 14, 2004 21:41:21 GMT -5
Swedish tennis star Torsten Johansson dead at 84 Wednesday, May 26, 2004 STOCKHOLM (AP) - Swedish tennis star Torsten Johansson, who set a record by shutting out two opponents at Wimbledon in 1946, died at 84.
Johnasson died May 14, Mats Hasselquist, a friend and former Swedish Davis Cup captain, said Wednesday. A 6-0, 6-0, 6-0 victory is a tennis rarity, but Johansson produced two in a row at Wimbledon 58 years ago. Johansson played for the Royal Tennis Club in the early 1940s and won more than 100 national titles for the club, a record that still stands.
He and Lennart Bergelin, who later became Bjorn Borg's coach, turned Sweden into a tennis power after the Second World War. Johansson played Davis Cup tennis for 16 years, retiring after the 1962 series against Mexico.
Johansson played in senior tournaments until his death.
"He always wanted to die on the tennis court, but it didn't happen," Hasselquist, a former Swedish Davis Cup captain, told The Associated Press.
Johansson is survived by his wife, Lise, and two sons, Toto and Nils.
|
|
|
Post by Francine on Jun 24, 2004 8:14:12 GMT -5
From IFMN: Sorry, everybody, but this is pretty bad news about Magnus. We already knew that he wasn't going to be able to play in Bastad (thanks to Lollo!) but an article just appeared today in Swedish indicating that Magnus is still experiencing pain in his hip, and is thinking about abandoning his comeback effort. He cannot play tennis more than an hour without pain in his hip, cannot run for more than 20 minutes without pain, and just two weeks ago had pain in his hip during a round of golf. He vows not to play in pain again, and is concerned that this may keep him off the tennis court for good. Here's the full article in Swedish, but I gave the main points: svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=10700&a=224311
|
|
|
Post by TennisHack on Jul 28, 2004 17:25:56 GMT -5
Lucky Loser Johansson A Winner In Toronto By Tennis Week 07/28/2004
Thomas Johansson entered the Toronto draw as a lucky loser and extended his stay as a willful winner today. The 2002 Australian Open champion, who replaced Taylor Dent in the draw after the 29th-ranked American withdrew with a strained right calf, advanced to the second round of the Tennis Masters Series-Canada with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over 13th-seeded Nicolas Massu.
The 1999 Canadian champion had a strong serving day, delivering 11 aces, winning 31 of his 40 first-serve points and saving one of the two break points he faced to surge into a second-round meeting with Russia's Igor Andreev.
Five years ago, Johansson beat Jim Courier, Nicolas Kiefer and Yevgeny Kafelnikov in succession to claim his first career Tennis Masters Series crown in Montreal. Since that victory, Johansson has suffered three straight second-round setbacks at the event. He was sidelined last year while recovering from a right shoulder injury.
A finalist at last month's grass-court tournament in Nottingham, Johansson raised his record to 15-14 on the year in winning his first hard-court match since scoring a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory over Dmitry Tursunov in the opening round of Indian Wells.
Massu, who defeated Roland Garros champion Gaston Gaudio, 7-6(3), 6-4 to claim his first tournament title of the year at the Generali Open in Kitzbuhel, Austria on Sunday, has played primarily a clay-court schedule this season. The defeat dropped his hard-court record to 0-5 this year.
|
|
|
Post by TennisHack on Aug 5, 2004 19:15:18 GMT -5
Robin Soderling, from Sweden, hits a forehand against Tommy Haas, from Germany, during a third-round match at the Masters Cincinnati tournament, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2004, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
|
|
|
Post by fatboy aphex on Aug 22, 2004 17:29:29 GMT -5
Good news (for me). Magnus Larsson seems to have taken over from boring Kulti as co-host for TV4+ at their AMS broadcasts. Actually this merits a
|
|
|
Post by fatboy aphex on Aug 29, 2004 11:39:37 GMT -5
Aspelin choses pension over title.
A Grand Slam title or becoming #1 in the rankings? To Simon Aspelin life in tennis is about other objectives. - My priority right now is to be able to obtain pension from the tennis-tour, he says.
This story is not about big titles, multi-million contracts or celebrity status. It usually is not for Simon Aspelin. When he takes a walk from his hotel-room in Båstad to the tennis court not many people raise an eye-brow.
He may not be one of the world famous superstars of tennis, but this is something he can do without. -It's very different from person to person, some people I meet think tennis players live a very glamourous life. Many people think the players make an incredible amount of money, but it's nowhere near the situation in golf and football/ soccer. Only a small group of players is able to put away large amounts of money, he says.
And the 30 year old, originally from Saltsjöbaden(outside Stockh.) but now with a Dalarna-dialect, does not belong to the select group of world superstars which has made hundreds of million sw. cr.. His total career earnings amount to 3,6 million sw. cr.
He became a tennis-pro in 1998, then both as a singles and a doubles player. After a couple of seasons he recognized it was easier for him to succeed in doubles than in singles so the choice of career was an easy one.
Since a couple of years back Aspelin travels the tour. His partners have been replaced but success, albeit on a minor scale, has been on a regular basis. Partnering fellow Swede Johan Landsberg he reached his best so far, a semi-final at the Doubles World Championships in 2000. Since then he has won two titles, among them Båstad last year.
The goal is top 55
Aspelin's highest doubles ranking was 38. Right now he is the world #53.
To stay there is what his hopes are for the end of the year, because if so he has reached his major priority as of now. -In that case I have met the demands to obtain pension from the ATP-tour, he tells.
The tennis-tour, the ATP, pays pension for players which for at least five years have reached a set ranking. For doubles players it is #55 or better.
-I've been able to do it for four years straight now. If I can accomplish this, then I can look back upon my career and feel like I did a pretty good job.
Then he can from the age of 49 receive a pension for 20 years on. The amount is based on how many years the player have managed to clear the set ranking.
Would you in that case be financially independent for the rest of your life?
-It depends on your life-style, but I'd say it's enough. I can earn a living from my tennis, that's the most important for me.
The question is how long he wants to be part of the tennis-world? Because only a few places feel fresh nowadays and the constant travelling is no fun anymore. -I can't say I'm 100% comfortable with this life-style any longer. There are so many superficial acquaintances and it's an artificial world. I look forward to live in one town, have a steady place and spend my time with proper friends.
Do you consider moving back to Dalarna (part of Sweden) after your career?
-No, I don't think so. I've lived in Los Angeles for 3,5 years, and now I live in London. You get used to living in larger cities after a while. (TT) svt.se
|
|
|
Post by TennisHack on Aug 29, 2004 11:55:22 GMT -5
Interesting interview. I didn't know much about the pension fund before, so thanks for the info, Simon I guess that's one way to make your living off the Tour. I did find an elusive picture of him, though, surprisingly enough. Simon Aspelin of Sweden returns to the team of Anthony Dupuis of France and compatriat Michael Llodra during the doubles semifinals at the TD Waterhouse Cup at the Hamlet Country Club in Commack, N.Y., Saturday,Aug. 28, 2004. The French duo beat Aspelin and partner Todd Perry of Australia 6-1,3,6, 7-6 . (AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano)
|
|
|
Post by fatboy aphex on Aug 29, 2004 12:35:56 GMT -5
Hmm... I wonder what the pension "cut-off" is in singles. 55 people aren't that many. I bet in golf they are three times as many. At least. golf!
|
|
|
Post by TennisHack on Aug 29, 2004 12:41:35 GMT -5
It's probably the Top 100 or so. Doubles players usually get the short shrift on money issues.
|
|
|
Post by fatboy aphex on Aug 29, 2004 13:49:30 GMT -5
Probably is top 100 that seems to be the great divide on the ATP-tour. Are you actually considered an ATP tour player unless your in the top 100? Aren't you a Challenger tour player if you're ranked above?
|
|
|
Post by Layla on Sept 1, 2004 19:54:36 GMT -5
Thanks for the article, aphex. I must say, it's very interesting. The other side of tennis... I had no idea he was 30.
|
|
|
Post by fatboy aphex on Sept 15, 2004 10:09:10 GMT -5
Some news about Vince and Nors. They were on Sw TV yesterday and are apparently on the come-back trail again. Vinci said he's been able to practise three weeks without the pain in his legs. Norman siad he actually decided to call it quits this summer. But he missed it too much so he's on it again. So perhaps there will be some Swedish claycourters to cheer on again
|
|
|
Post by Francine on Sept 15, 2004 11:13:53 GMT -5
Thanks for the news Aphex. I didn't know Magnus actually quit this summer, hopefully he'll be back in 2005. I hope to attend at least one more match of his. Maybe in Amersfoort next year.
|
|
|
Post by TennisHack on Oct 1, 2004 18:12:54 GMT -5
Thomas Johansson of Sweden reaches for a forehand during his quater-final match against world's No. 2 Andy Roddick of the U.S. in the Thailand Open tennis tournament at Impact Arena in Bangkok Friday, Oct. 1, 2004. Roddick won 6-3, 6-4. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong) Robin Soderling of Sweden aims his forehand to world's No. 1 Roger Federer of Switzerland during their quarter-final match in the Thailand Open tennis tournament at Impact Arena in Bangkok Friday, Oct. 1, 2004. Federer won 7-6 (3). 6-4. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong) Robin Soderling of Sweden reacts after losing a point during his quarter-final match against world's No. 1 Roger Federer in the Thailand Open tennis tournament at Impact Arena in Bangkok Friday, Oct. 1, 2004. Federer won 7-6 (3). 6-4. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
|
|
|
Post by TennisHack on Oct 9, 2004 17:35:41 GMT -5
Sweden's Robin Soderling returns the ball to United States' Vincent Spadea during their semifinal match of the Lyon tennis indoor tournament, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2004 in Lyon, central France. Soderling won 6-2, 6-4. (AP Photo/Patrick Gardin)
|
|
|
Post by Kiro on Oct 9, 2004 20:29:18 GMT -5
I love this one! It's one of the best pics of Robin I've ever seen
|
|
|
Post by TennisHack on Oct 9, 2004 22:39:40 GMT -5
I agree With the exception of the last pic I posted, his pictures are getting better and better. Hope he wins tomorrow
|
|