Mikael Ymer announces dramatic retirement U-turn after doping ban: "Retirement was boring"

Ten months after initially retiring from tennis, Mikael Ymer will return to the sport in eight months time when his doping ban is up in the latest twist to the saga for the 25-year-old who was banned for 18 months after being recorded as a no-show for three out of competition tests.

Last year, Ymer reached his career best moving up to World No.50 and at his final tournament of Wimbledon 2023, he reached the third round coming back from two sets down to defeat Taylor Fritz. But it soon turned with Ymer retiring on the spot after contesting his ban. He was recorded as a 'no show' for three tests in a 12-month period back in 2021 and accepted his first two missed tests but argued the third was to do with miscommunication due to a sudden change in accommodation.

Initially cleared by an independent tribunal, the ITF appealed this and CAS upheld the two year ban partly imposing an 18-month ban which made him end his career.

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“(CAS) has suspended me from professional tennis for 18 months, despite never having used nor been accused of using banned substances," Ymer wrote on X at the time.

"Having already been cleared once, and wholeheartedly standing by the fact that I do not feel that the third offense was committed, I find their decision to try me again and subsequently find me guilty, unfair. On top of that, I find it difficult to comprehend that they found an 18-month suspension to be a just punishment."

"I've decided to retire from professional tennis. Thank you all for the amazing memories!” he wrote. “What a ride it's been! I wish all my old colleagues well going forward in competition. God is Great always.”

But now he is back with Ymer suddenly returning to social media to announce his intention to return when his ban is up. “Retirement was boring,” Ymer wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, “see u in 8 months.”