Swedish tennis needs a star like Zlatan, says Soederling

By Daily Sports on May 26, 2018

For decades, tennis players from Sweden travelled to Roland Garros with high expectations but the sport is going to need an iconic figure like football star Zlatan Ibrahimovic if they are to regain their former glory, Robin Soederling has told Reuters.

The two-time French Open finalist, who lost to Roger Federer in 2009 and Rafael Nadal in 2010, was speaking ahead of the French Open, the event where his compatriots notched some of their biggest successes from the late 1970s to 2010.

“It started with Bjorn Borg, we had a big star and tennis was very popular. Success breeds interest, and tennis was featured a lot in the media, and I think a lot of kids had tennis as their first choice of sport,” Soederling explained.

“We had (Stefan) Edberg, (Mats) Wilander and the rest, and then the next generation, and that was the reason I started. There was always Swedes to follow at tournaments. I didn’t have a favourite player but I liked to follow the Swedes,” the 33-year-old said.

“Success breeds success, so I think we’re going to see the same thing in football with Zlatan (Ibrahimovic). In a number of years there’ll be a lot of kids who started playing because of him.

“The current biggest hope for the Swedes is 22-year-old Elias Ymer, who qualified for the French Open by beating Prajnesh Gunneswaran on Friday. Ymer, who is coached by Soederling and is just outside the top 100 in the ATP world rankings, is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Bjorn Borg who claimed the title at Roland Garros four years in a row from 1978 to 1981.

When Borg failed to make the final in 1982, it was left to his compatriot Mats Wilander to raise the trophy after defeating Argentina’s Guillermo Vilas in the final. Wilander went on to win again in 1985 and 1988 and he lost the final in 1987, with fellow Swedes Mikael Pernfors and Stefan Edberg also finishing as runners-up during a golden decade for Swedish tennis. Since then it’s been slim pickings for the Swedes, with a losing appearance by Magnus Norman in the 2000 final. (thenews.com.pk)

•Photo shows Zlatan Ibrahimovic 

Source Daily Sports

Posted May 26, 2018


 

You may also like...
Burnley See Off Brentford To Earn First League...

Ikpeba, Edema, Eguavoen Storm Asaba For Delta State...

West Ham Into Top Four, Newcastle Beaten Again...

Norwich Relegated From Premier League As Four-Goal Antonio...

Remembering El haj Mudashiru Babatunde Tiamiyu Lawal, MON,...

IIechukwu dreams of NPFL summit as MFM host...

 

Latest News Hearn slams Ngannou over Joshua defeat excuse Chelsea eye Martinez to replace Osimhen Visa unveils Amusan, Nwachukwu as global ambassadors I’m not under pressure to coach Eagles – Finidi Super Eagles focused on World Cup qualifiers – Omeruo Ibrahim: Striker who wants to emulate Lukaku at Chelsea Boniface ranked best African performer in Europe Napoli may reduce Osimhen price tag Mali beat Nigeria 2-0 in international friendly NOC commends Team Nigeria, government, media for victory at African Games JOF U-13 Cup: 8 Clubs Qualify For Quarterfinals Osimhen resumes training, fit for Atalanta clash

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (53,394 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (44,400 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (42,545 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (42,219 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (42,004 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (41,882 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (41,768 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (41,225 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (40,272 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (39,183 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (37,635 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (37,210 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media