Baby joy for Soderling

 

Originally published on: 21/05/12 00:00

Robin Soderling hasn’t been able to celebrate anything on the tennis court since July 2011, but the former world No.5 had reason to be joyful today after announcing he is to become a father.

The Swede, who is married to Jenni Mostrom, tweeted on Monday morning: “Hi everyone. I have the best news. Jenni and I are becoming parents in late September. We are both very happy and excited.”

The news is something of a ray of sunshine for the Swede, who hasn’t played a single tour match since he scored back-to-back wins over Tomas Berdych and David Ferrer to win the SkiStar Swedish Open title 10 months ago.

Diagnosed with mononucleosis, which, amongst other symptoms, causes a lack of energy and has also hampered fellow players Andy Roddick and Roger Federer in the past, Soderling has been unable to play any part in the calendar in 2012 but recently insisted he had not given up on getting back on court at some point this year.

“I have NOT taken any decision to end this season,” he wrote on twitter, but acknowledged: “It will probably be difficult to get back in shape this summer.”

Soderling’s absence from this year’s clay court swing has been noticeable, given that last season he reached the quarter-finals in Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros. The 27-year-old Monte Carlo resident remains the only man to have beaten Rafael Nadal in the Spaniard’s seven appearances at Roland Garros, following victory over the 10-time Grand Slam champion in the fourth round in 2009 with a run to his first major final, where he fell to Roger Federer.

He defeated the Swiss in the quarter-finals the following year en route to his second French Open final, but proved unable to get the better of Nadal for a second time, losing the 2010 showpiece before falling to the Mallorcan in the last eight last year.

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