Article

  • Stockholm - Joachim Johansson makes his return against Nicolas Mahut

    10/7/08 2:34 AM | Cheryl Murray
    - To the delight of the Swedish crowd, countryman Pim-Pim Johansson comes back to professional tennis on Tuesday after announcing his retirement in February of this year.

    Joachim Johansson was going to be the future of Swedish tennis - until he developed a debilitating and chronic shoulder injury that sidelined him on and off for almost four years. Until he began working with Carlos Moya and his physio team, surgery and rehab had been ineffective for Johansson. Johansson has managed to play Stockholm in both 2006 and 2007. He was forced to withdraw in 2007 with injury, but he advanced all the way to the semifinals in 2006. Along the way, he beat the then number two Rafael Nadal, which he claims is the best win of his career.

    France’s Nicolas Mahut has had a difficult year. His ranking has dipped to 91 in the world. His best result was a win at the Challenger event in Orleans. Like Johansson, Mahut wins matches off his blistering first serve. Tuesday’s match will likely feature little in the way of rhythm. When healthy, both men can serve their opponents off the court. Neither man is likely to allow many break point chances, so at least one tiebreak is probable.

    Johansson will be rusty from lack of play, but if he can get his serve down, the Swede has a good shot at pulling off the upset - with the full support of an appreciative crowd.

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Comments

kom igen!!!! Joachim wins! He's back.

RickyDimon , 10/7/08 9:59 PM


Go Pim-Pim! Thank you Moya.

milivice , 10/8/08 8:31 PM



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