Mikael Ymer returns to professional tennis after retirement: Davis Cup goals ahead

Swedish 26-year-old Mikael Ymer makes his return to professional competition after 18 months, following a suspension from the ITIA. The former world No. 50 was handed an 18-month suspension in July 2023 by the CAS for failing to attend anti-doping tests outside of competition over a 12-month period.

Ymer appealed, claiming innocence, in a case that quickly became public. According to Ymer, one of the missed tests was because he was caring for his younger brother, Rafael, who, according to Mikael, was sick. However, the CAS investigation revealed that his younger brother was at a tennis tournament in Finland, casting doubt on Mikael's version of events.

After his suspension was made public, Ymer announced his retirement: "Hey guys, I've decided to retire from professional tennis. Thank you all for the amazing memories! What a ride it's been! I wish all my old colleagues well going forward in competition," he posted.

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His best Grand Slam results were third-round appearances at the Australian Open (2021), French Open (2021, 2022), and Wimbledon 2023. Ymer also reached a singles final at the ATP 250 Winston Salem 2021 but lost to Belarusian Ilya Ivashka.

Ymer has notable wins over Carlos Alcaraz in 2021 and two wins over Jannik Sinner (2-3 overall), showing his worth against some of the best players in the world. However, these victories came before these players reached their current level, as Ymer's only top-10 win came against world No. 9 Taylor Fritz at Wimbledon 2023, where he came back from two sets down.

Mikael Ymer reached to his best ranking in 2023 as world No. 50.

As reported today by Sweden's Expressen, Simon Aspelin, the Swedish Tennis Federation's sports director, confirmed that Ymer will compete in upcoming Davis Cup matches. “The plan is for him to be involved. He has been training for some time now,” said Aspelin.

The Europeans will face a tough challenge against Australia, led by Alex de Minaur, in the qualifiers during the week of January 27. The winners will meet the winners of Belgium vs. Chile for a spot in the Finals.

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"It strengthens the team a lot. 'Micke' was a key factor in Sweden reaching the Davis Cup Finals three times in a row. He has been extremely stable in the context of the Davis Cup, just like his brother Elías,” added Aspelin. “Mikael is our best player and can compete with the best, that's for sure. It’s important to have him in the team.”

Swedish tennis has had notable figures throughout its history, including former world No. 1s like Björn Borg, Mats Wilander, and Stefan Edberg, along with a total of 8 top-5 players and 17 top-10 players. However, since 2011, Mikael Ymer has been the only Swedish player to make it into the top-100.

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