Sweden's tennis star Soderling retires

Stockholm, Dec 24:  Former world No.4 tennis player Robin Soderling has announced his retirement at the age of 31.

"Thank u so much for all your kind words.So sad I won't play professiol tennis again, but reading all ur msgs makes me feel a lot better," Soderling wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.

The Tibro, Sweden tive had not taken part in an ATP World Tour event since 2011 due to glandular fever.

"In all the years I have believed that I would be able to take me back to the world elite in tennis but now I've realized that I will not be healthy enough that I will be able to play tennis at the level I demand of myself," Soderling said in a statement.

In his 10 years on tour, Soderling compiled a 310-170 match record and captured 10 ATP World Tour titles.

Soderling also reached successive French Open fils in 2009 and 2010. He is also a semi-filist at the 2002 US Open.

A big server equally comfortable on fast indoor courts and on outdoor clay, he enjoyed his best results in Paris.

At Roland Garros, he made history by handing Rafael dal his first loss at the event in 2009 and upset Roger Federer on the same court in 2010. Later that year, Soderling secured his lone ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title at the BNP Paribas Masters.

The 31-year-old ended his ATP World Tour career with a win. Soderling entered the 2011 Bastad tourment as the top seed and defeated David Ferrer in the fil before being forced to the sidelines. IANS