Tennis Acumen

Jonas Björkman Returns to Tennis After 5 Years, Wins Doubles Match in Stockholm

PETE ZIEBRON

Jonas Björkman, the former world doubles #1 and owner of 54 doubles titles including 9 majors and a career Grand Slam in doubles returned to action on the ATP Tour for the first time since 2008. Björkman and his partner, fellow Swede Robert Lindstedt, defeated another pair of Swedes, Isak Arvidsson and Andreas Siljestrom 6-3 5-7 10-3 in the opening round of the If Stockholm Open.

The 41 year old Björkman retired from tennis five years ago following the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai in November 2008 and ironically played his final singles match at the If Stockholm Open a month earlier.  Björkman reached #4 in the world in singles in November 1997 and won 6 titles in singles, including 3 in 1997.

Björkman's 2006 campaign in singles was most unusual as he brought a 2-10 record on the year into the tournament in Nottingham in June.  After dropping the opening set in round 1 against Augustin Calleri, Björkman swept the next 8 sets in the tournament in winning his next 4 matches and marched to the Final, where he lost to Richard Gasquet in straight sets.  He would parlay his success on the lawns of Nottingham at Wimbledon, where Björkman advanced all the way to the semifinals, losing to eventual Champion Roger Federer in straight sets.  Björkman would conclude his 2006 campaign with a 2-7 record following Wimbledon.

However, Björkman is best known for his play and success in doubles.  Teaming with legendary Australian doubles specialist Todd Woodbridge, the Björkman-Woodbridge team won three consecutive Wimbledon Doubles titles from 2002-2004.

Ironically, Björkman has won doubles titles with 4 singles major Champions, including:

• Patrick Rafter ('98 Indian Wells & '99 Australian Open, Montreal, Halle)
• Roger Federer ('01 Rotterdam)
• John McEnroe ('06 San Jose)
• Thomas Johansson ('06 Bastad)

This week in Stockholm features two Swedes who have come out of retirement to play competitive tennis once again, Joachim Johansson and Jonas Björkman.  Johansson entered the qualifying draw as a wild card, won all three qualifying matchas and also was victorious in his 1st round main draw match, defeating Alejandro Falla of Colombia in impressive fashion 6-1 6-3.  Next up for Johansson is the tournament's #2 seed, Canadian Milos Raonic in the featured night match on center court.

The wild card doubles team of Björkman and Robert Lindstedt are set to face Ernests Gulbis and Dmitry Tursunov tomorrow in the 2nd round in doubles following their opening round win.

Jonas Björkman and Joachim Johansson are back on the ATP Tour, at least for this week.  

Your move Björn Borg, Mats Wilander and Stefan Edberg.

• NOTE: Jonas Björkman and Joachim Johansson teamed to win 2005 tournament in Bastad in doubles.

 

Joachim Johansson Plays in First ATP Tournament Since 2009 Today in Stockholm

PETE ZIEBRON

Former US Open Semifinalist Joachim "Pim Pim" Johansson returned to the tennis court today defeating Canadian Erik Chvojka 6-3 7-5 in the open round of qualifying at the If Stockholm Open.  Aside from playing one Futures event, one Challenger tournament and a Davis Cup match in 2011 as well as one match in Davis Cup in 2010, this was the first action on the ATP circuit for Johansson since 2009.

The former world #9 (February 2005), hit 9 aces today and saved all 4 break point opportunities held by Chvojka in advancing to the 2nd round of qualifying.  Tomorrow's opponent is the #4 seed in the qualifying draw, German Matthias Bachinger, who rallied from a one set deficit to win the last 12 games of the match, posting a 5-7 6-0 6-0 win over Juan Sebastian Cabal of Colombia.

Nine years ago, the 6"6' Swede's game resembled that of Juan Martin del Potro, yet another 6'6" top ten player with a huge serve and heavy forehand.  Earlier today, the current world #5 del Potro defeated world #1 Rafael Nadal 6-2 6-4 to advance to the Final of the Shanghai Masters 1000.  One can only wonder how successful Johansson would have been had it not been for nagging right shoulder injuries that forced him to retire from tennis.

Johansson once held the ATP record for aces in a match, pounding 51 of them past Andre Agassi in 4 sets in a 4th round loss at the 2005 Australian Open.   Four months earlier at the 2004 US Open, Johansson defeated defending Champion Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals before falling to Lleyton Hewitt in the semis.  

Due to shoulder injuries, 2004 was the only year that Johansson played all 4 majors.  He owns 3 ATP titles - Memphis in 2004 as well as Adelaide and Marseille in 2005 and sports a perfect 3-0 record in ATP Finals.

Should Johansson win two more qualifying matches, potential opponents in the If Stockholm main draw include: #7 seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany or Alejandro Falla of Colombia.

Welcome Back to tennis Pim Pim!