robin soderling tennis player

biography of robin soderling
Robin Bo Carl Söderling (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈrɔbɪn ˈsøːdəɭɪŋ]; born 14 August 1984 in Tibro) is a professional tennis player from Sweden who is currently ranked number 5 in the ATP rankings. Söderling is best known for reaching successive French Open finals in 2009 and 2010. In both tournaments, he defeated the defending champion en route to the final — Rafael Nadal in 2009 (becoming the first and, to date, only player to defeat Nadal at the French Open),[2] and Roger Federer in 2010 (ending Federer's record streak of 23 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals).[3] His biggest title of his career, came at the 2010 Paris Masters. Söderling was previously coached by former world no.2 Magnus Norman, but they announced on December 1 2010 that they will break the cooperation, because Norman wants to spend more time on his other projects and with his family. Robin Söderling is yet to announce a new coach.
Personal life

Söderling speaks English, Swedish and German. His father Bo is a lawyer and mother Britt-Inger, a housewife. Söderling's sister, Sandra, is a teacher. While not playing, Söderling enjoys relaxing with friends, watching sports, spending time with his girlfriend, playing golf, going fishing, and driving around in his car.[4] Robin is engaged to Jenni Moström.[5]
[edit]Juniors
Söderling began playing tennis at the age of five. Robin Söderling made his first steps in international tennis in November 1998 in Luxembourg when at the age of 14 he played his first official junior tournament, losing the opening match to Fred Hemmes, Jr. In his first full year in the junior tour (2000), he achieved four tournament victories and in 2001 attained three more titles in the juniors including the Orange Bowl. In the same year Söderling achieved fourth place in the year-end ranking and played in his very first ATP tournament in Stockholm, winning his first match against Ramón Delgado.
[edit]Professional career

[edit]First years
Söderling tried to break into the men's circuit in 2002, playing five more ATP tournaments and the second round of the US Open. In the Challenger circuit he achieved a 16–8 record, and he played in the US Open Junior tournament where he reached the final. In 2003 the transition to the main tour was completed as he reached the third round at Wimbledon (coming from the qualifying rounds) and reached an ATP final in Stockholm (losing a decisive tie-break there), earning the year-end ranking of 86. Robin's first ATP title came in 2004 at the Lyon where he beat Belgian Xavier Malisse in the final. He also made the final at Marseille. By the end of the year, Söderling climbed into the world's top 50 in the rankings. Robin had his first serious injury in 2005, eventually resulting in a knee operation in March. But even though not fit to play many tournaments, he managed to score another title – in Milan (d. Radek Štěpánek in final). After a mediocre and injury troubled season from there on, Robin reached just one good result (third round in the US Open), before going through another surgery.
Returning in 2006, he bounced back from 100th place in the Indesit ATP rankings to top 50 within three months, even though knee and shoulder injuries still prevented him from playing at his best. Helped the Swedish team with two wins to keep its World Group Davis Cup spot in a play-off in Brazil. During the season he was healthy most of the time and managed a good climb, although he failed to impress at the Slams. But in the end of the year, he earned many points and finished at a career-high place of 25.
2007 was to be an OK year as well for Söderling. He made it to the round of 32 at Wimbledon, where he lost to Rafael Nadal in a five-set match. He caused much controversy on the court when he exchanged mocking behaviour with Nadal, tugging on his shorts in the manner Nadal is known for after growing tired of Nadal's slow play at the beginning of the 5th.[6]
Söderling did not make it to an ATP final for the first time in 5 years in 2007, however he turned out consistent results all through out the year. Yet he missed the last 3 months of the main tour due to a left wrist injury.