Robin Soderling: "If no comeback in 2013, then I do not know...."

heninfan99

Talk Tennis Guru
I think his career will always be linked with Nadal in a few ways.
He's one of those impact players that can take out the very best players of a draw.

Hopefully he can come back.
 

fedfan46

Rookie
this sucks. if i can forgive soderling for beating fed at the french in 08 or whenever it was, you know he must be a special player.
 

SLD76

G.O.A.T.
Guessed as much, given the context. I really don't get what is with these tennis players and mono. Haven't heard any other sportspeople get it :confused:
Hope we don't have another Ancic like case here and Soderling does make a decent comeback.

It is really quite simple. EBV is one of those viruses that 90% of the population carries, however it rarely turns into a noticeable bout of glandular fever (Mononucleosis).

The thing is, athletes today are pushing themselves to the limit of the human body, with travelling, lack of sleep, time zone changes, practice schedules, etc.

We didn't see this because 30 years ago people didn't work even close to as hard and for such an extended period of time at the top of pro sports. Mono is merely the virus that tells you "I am doing too much". First year of University I was working while going to the gym 5 days a week and essentially working myself until I couldn't lift anymore (really stupid, I regret the mistakes I made so much as it has set me back 6 years physically, and I probably will never be the same) and I caught mono. I continued to work not knowing I had it, and was wondering why I was seeing stars and almost passing out. Sure enough they did tests and I had mono. I never really recovered and then ended up getting some other virus a year later and lost 20 pounds, which after 6 years I have just gained 10 of those back.

Obviously not everyone has such an extreme case as me, however it is more than conceivable in Soderling's case that he just isn't the same anymore - and at the pro tennis level, even 5% reduction in capability may be the difference between 10 and 50 in the world.

P.S I want to mention I wasn't really bed ridden except for the first 7 days, but I couldn't stay awake longer than 2 hours without feeling like I hadn't slept in 5 days. This really hinders the ability to train at the elite level, even if it is an extremely mild case - Roddick was never the same, Federers energy in 5 setters hasn't been the same arguably, and Soderling is completely finished.

And 2x P.S Mononucleosis is NOT BACTERIAL. The entire premise of a virus, and why they can be much more debilitating than bacteria is that there is no cure, and inherently they work much differently. While bacteria is a single identifiable force inside your body that can be targeted (antibiotics) a virus uses your own cells to replicate, thus it is much more complicated to create vaccine's and anti-viral drugs since the virus inherently inhabits your own cells - this is why HIV is incurable (at least right now).
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Last edited by wy2sl0 : 01-07-2013 at 10:32 AM.
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sbengte

G.O.A.T.
^^^ Thanks for sharing that !

The thing is, athletes today are pushing themselves to the limit of the human body, with travelling, lack of sleep, time zone changes, practice schedules, etc.

Yes, I get that part. What I don't get is why don't we see athletes from other sports also get it assuming they work equally hard. Unless we accept that tennis is the most physically demanding sport of them all (travel, fitness training included).
 

SLD76

G.O.A.T.
^^^ Thanks for sharing that !



Yes, I get that part. What I don't get is why don't we see athletes from other sports also get it assuming they work equally hard. Unless we accept that tennis is the most physically demanding sport of them all (travel, fitness training included).

You're welcome but I didnt write that :)

wy2sl0 deserves all the credit. I started a thread last week about why so many tennis players seem to get mono, and that was his response.
 

SLD76

G.O.A.T.
^^^ Thanks for sharing that !



Yes, I get that part. What I don't get is why don't we see athletes from other sports also get it assuming they work equally hard. Unless we accept that tennis is the most physically demanding sport of them all (travel, fitness training included).

I think the sheer length of the tennis season has alot to do with it.
There is alot of travel with say professional baseball and basketball. But their seasons are half the length of tennis and it doesnt feature international travel, going from one continent to another.

Baseball goes from april til oct1 for most players. Then an additional month or so for the playoffs and world series. Tennis predates the baseball season by 3 months and lasts one month longer. NBA season is roughly nov-may maybe 1st week of june. Granted, the tennis season starts two months after basketball, but also lasts an extra 6 months.

SO i think the training, competetition and travel can all lead to players immune systems being taxed.
 
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NadalAgassi

Guest
It is sad his career seems pretty much ended by illness. He could definitely be in the top 5 today if he were still playing IMO. I am not a fan of his playing style so much but he was always fun to have around as he could take out any of the top guys at a given time. He could have made another slam final and won another Masters, and maybe with a bit of luck won a slam before he retired, but it seems that wont ever happen now. His last half year on tour was pretty good too, didnt he win 4 or 5 small tournaments?
 

President

Legend
It is sad his career seems pretty much ended by illness. He could definitely be in the top 5 today if he were still playing IMO. I am not a fan of his playing style so much but he was always fun to have around as he could take out any of the top guys at a given time. He could have made another slam final and won another Masters, and maybe with a bit of luck won a slam before he retired, but it seems that wont ever happen now. His last half year on tour was pretty good too, didnt he win 4 or 5 small tournaments?

Yes, in the last tournament (Bastad 2011) he played, he absolutely destroyed Berdych in the SF and Ferrer in the final in a completely dominant performance. If he never comes back, it was a good way to go out.
 
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NadalAgassi

Guest
Yes, in the last tournament (Bastad 2011) he played, he absolutely destroyed Berdych in the SF and Ferrer in the final in a completely dominant performance. If he never comes back, it was a good way to go out.

I didnt know that was his last tournament, but yes that was a top performance to go out with if it was! Just curious how do you think he compares to Berdych and Del Potro all at their best on the power scale alone (just that aspect, not as overall players). Do you think all 3 are about equal, or who do you think is better.
 

President

Legend
I didnt know that was his last tournament, but yes that was a top performance to go out with if it was! Just curious how do you think he compares to Berdych and Del Potro all at their best on the power scale alone (just that aspect, not as overall players). Do you think all 3 are about equal, or who do you think is better.

Berdych definitely has the least power of the three (but best placement), Del Potro probably has the most top end speed on the forehand but is a lot more conservative than the other 3 and tends to almost push his backhand. Soderling hit the ball the hardest on a consistent basis and also used the most topspin, giving a really heavy ball. He was also the only one who really crushed his backhand as well as his forehand. Soderling also had about 5-10 mph on the other 2 on the serve.

The game lost a great player in Robin Soderling, he could have possibly snuck a major and IMO was just as good (if not better) a player as Del Potro.

Btw, I just checked and Bastad 2011 was his last tournament. He beat Berdych 6-1 6-0 in the SF and Ferrer 6-2 6-2 in the Final. Just an amazing performance, its a damn shame he retired at basically the top of his game.
 
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I think more research needs to be done on viruses such as mono(EBV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV). Most doctors say everyone has it but what they miss out on is that if you get it when you are pre 18 yrs old or a kid your body recovers . And it does not affect your health as much.

But if you get it in your mid 20s or early 30s it destroys you and your body. You do not die immediately but over time you are 50% of what you used to be. Your strength diminishes , muscles, concentration body all go down. YOu develop IBS and your life is never the same.

Lets take a look at Mario(EBV), Henin(CMV) and Soderling (EBV) at careers destroyed by this group of Herpes 6 family of viruses. I know quite a few people in the same boat and it is soul destroying for them.
 

RAFA2005RG

Banned
Berdych definitely has the least power of the three (but best placement), Del Potro probably has the most top end speed on the forehand but is a lot more conservative than the other 3 and tends to almost push his backhand. Soderling hit the ball the hardest on a consistent basis and also used the most topspin, giving a really heavy ball. He was also the only one who really crushed his backhand as well as his forehand. Soderling also had about 5-10 mph on the other 2 on the serve.

The game lost a great player in Robin Soderling, he could have possibly snuck a major and IMO was just as good (if not better) a player as Del Potro.

Btw, I just checked and Bastad 2011 was his last tournament. He beat Berdych 6-1 6-0 in the SF and Ferrer 6-2 6-2 in the Final. Just an amazing performance, its a damn shame he retired at basically the top of his game.

And he was an extremely good Roland Garros player. Made 2 Roland Garros finals=

2009 RG Final: Federer d Soderling 6-1, 7-6(1), 6-4.
2010 RG Final: Nadal d Soderling 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.

Best Roland Garros player outside of Nadal. He beat Federer and Nadal at Roland Garros, albeit in the earlier rounds.
 

6-1 6-3 6-0

Banned
Nadal currently leads Soderling 81-48 in games won/lost in their Roland Garros matches. I would like them to meet at least one more time at Roland Garros, so Nadal can win an even one-hundred games (he'd have to win 6-x, 6-x, 7-x or by a similar scoreline). A fitting end to one of the greatest 'rivalries' at Roland Garros. :p
 

jrs

Professional
Virus then mean no treatment?

I think more research needs to be done on viruses such as mono(EBV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV). Most doctors say everyone has it but what they miss out on is that if you get it when you are pre 18 yrs old or a kid your body recovers . And it does not affect your health as much.

But if you get it in your mid 20s or early 30s it destroys you and your body. You do not die immediately but over time you are 50% of what you used to be. Your strength diminishes , muscles, concentration body all go down. YOu develop IBS and your life is never the same.

Lets take a look at Mario(EBV), Henin(CMV) and Soderling (EBV) at careers destroyed by this group of Herpes 6 family of viruses. I know quite a few people in the same boat and it is soul destroying for them.
If it's a virus then there is no treatment right?
Who is Mario?
I thought Roger Federer had this a couple of years back. I didn't realize Henin retired due to health reasons.
Hopefully, Soderling would make it back - in the ATP - the competition is pretty tough.
 
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mmk

Hall of Fame
If it's a virus then there is no treatment right?
Who is Mario?
I thought Roger Federer had this a couple of years back. I didn't realize Henin retired due to health reasons.
Hopefully, Soderling would make it back - in the ATP - the competition is pretty tough.

Mario Ancic

Mono is potentially no joke, it nearly killed my oldest daughter in the fall of 2009 when she was a senior in college. As it was, she missed a lot of classes.
 

spinovic

Hall of Fame
Mario Ancic

Mono is potentially no joke, it nearly killed my oldest daughter in the fall of 2009 when she was a senior in college. As it was, she missed a lot of classes.

Yes. From what I've read, the severity can vary from person-to-person and case-to-case. Federer was lucky as his was brief and not that severe. Soderling (and others) haven't been so lucky and it has turned into a prolonged struggle. It seems increasingly likely that it has ended his promising career prematurely. He was a guy, prior to his injury, who obviously had the potential with his talent and big game to catch lightning in a bottle a la Delpo in 2009 and steal a slam from the top guys.
 

beckstennis

New User
And he was an extremely good Roland Garros player. Made 2 Roland Garros finals=

2009 RG Final: Federer d Soderling 6-1, 7-6(1), 6-4.
2010 RG Final: Nadal d Soderling 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.

Best Roland Garros player outside of Nadal. He beat Federer and Nadal at Roland Garros, albeit in the earlier rounds.

Oh you are funny NSK :)
 
If it's a virus then there is no treatment right?
Who is Mario?
I thought Roger Federer had this a couple of years back. I didn't realize Henin retired due to health reasons.
Hopefully, Soderling would make it back - in the ATP - the competition is pretty tough.

Yes Henin was ravaged by CMV Cytomegalovirus......

And eventually had to retire.......... That and EBV aka mono are cousins in the virus family.
 

RAFA2005RG

Banned
Can you imagine Nadal's aura if Soderling never beat him in 2009 Roland Garros? And no Career Grand Slam for *********. ********* actually played worse in 2009 RG than any year that he lost to Nadal in. Soderling has had the biggest impact on tennis history of any non-top5 player, ever.
 
RAFA2005G

Really can you imagine if Nadal had not beaten fed in that infamous wimby final which was played in near darkness in the fifth set........can you imagine can you imagine......NO actually i cannot imagine because reality is that did happen.....

And the reality is that unfortunately Rafa has payed a price with his take no prisoners play as his knees have given out......

So its time to accept that and stop imagining........Be brave and accept reality.....
 
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NadalAgassi

Guest
RAFA2005G

Really can you imagine if Nadal had not beaten fed in that infamous wimby final which was played in near darkness in the fifth set........can you imagine can you imagine......NO actually i cannot imagine because reality is that did happen.....

Except that isnt even worth discussing as Federer was lucky as heck to be in a 5th set in that match in the first place, and was only there courtesy of a Nadal choke closing out the match.
 

Goosehead

Legend
RAFA2005G

Really can you imagine if Nadal had not beaten fed in that infamous wimby final which was played in near darkness in the fifth set........can you imagine can you imagine......NO actually i cannot imagine because reality is that did happen.....

And the reality is that unfortunately Rafa has payed a price with his take no prisoners play as his knees have given out......

So its time to accept that and stop imagining........Be brave and accept reality.....

it was not 'near darkness'..dont exaggerate (difficult to do on this site, i know)
 
you are right it was not near darkness but in fact it was total darkness....
for petes sake the camera flashes were blinding me it was so dark........

even the match commentators were saying it looks brighter on tv than being there live........

take my word for it .....I was in St Johns wood at a friends apartment nearby and at like 9pm that night it was darkkkkkkkkkkkkk

your location states england......so i assume you would have known that for sure.......dont argue for the sake of it.....


And to the above poster about nadals choke......Sorry I dont think he choked.........In fact I dont think I have ever seen nadal choke......have seen fed choke against nadal but not vice versa..............

I think fed just upped his game and went hell for leather as he felt at the time that he was going to lose so why not go for it.....


cue backlash......
 
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