[letittbe]

Sweden’s Jonas Bjorkman to retire in October


WIMBLEDON, England (AP)—Swedish star Jonas Bjorkman will retire in October, ending a career in which he reached a No. 4 ranking and won nine Grand Slam doubles titles, including three straight at Wimbledon.
Bjorkman announced his decision just hours before play began Monday at Wimbledon, where he won doubles titles from 2002-04 and reached the singles semifinals—at age 34—in 2006.


After trips to the Beijing Olympics and the U.S. Open in August, the Swede plans to bid farewell to tennis on home soil at the Stockholm Open.


“Wimbledon has a special place in my heart and I knew it was the right time to do it here,” Bjorkman told The Associated Press. “I feel I’m at the stage where maybe I don’t have a desire.


“Maybe I’ve lost the competitive edge a bit. When it comes to after matches it didn’t hurt as much. … It should be a hurting when you lose.”

Bjorkman reached a career-high No. 4 in singles and No. 1 in doubles. He played his first Grand Slam tournament at the 1993 U.S. Open and twice reached the semifinals at majors: at the U.S. Open in 1997 and at Wimbledon in ‘06, when he took only four games from eventual champion Roger Federer.



Continued; http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news?slu...v=ap&type=lgns

[Gastonleruanich]

I'll miss Jonas. But I suppose it's time. I wish him the best in life.

I'll also miss seeing his lovely wife in the stands.

[Caunnysup]

Jonas is a classy guy. He and Max were a terrific team, even though it got a little bit weird with the kid-naming thing.

He was one of the nicer stories in his last Wimbledon run. Self hugging and all.

Congratulations on your Brilliant Career.*





*Stolen movie title.

[LINETFAD]

Classy guy. Now I know what match I'll be attending in the 1R of the US Open.

I remember watching a great five setter between Bjorkman and Pioline in the 1R of the US Open about eight or ten years ago. They were both ranked in the top 20, but in those days of only 16 seeds, you could get a first rounder like that. It was good stuff from two great guys with a lot of on court flair.

[letittbe]

Bjorkman Retires After 17-Year Career



Jonas Bjorkman retired from professional tennis after the popular Swede and his Zimbabwean partner Kevin Ullyett failed to qualify for the Tennis Masters Cup semifinals on Friday. The pair lost to Polish duo Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski 6-2, 1-6, 10-6 in their final Gold Group match.

"We were hoping to maybe get through [to the semifinals]," said Bjorkman. "I still think it's great to end my career in the biggest event of the year. But you can't get everything. I've been mentally prepared for this because I'm mentally very ready to retire.

"I've been very fortunate to be able to play for so long. It started as my hobby, and I've been able to do it for 17 years, which is great. I'm really looking forward for the next step in life."


Continued: http://www.masters-cup.com/1/news/20...an_retires.asp

[rozalinasi]

Now that's what I call a bouquet!

He'll be missed, but I think he's earned a life outside of tennis.

[letittbe]

Now that's what I call a bouquet!

He'll be missed, but I think he's earned a life outside of tennis.

He runs a tennis magazine in Sweden, so he's bound to stay close to the sport, and of course he has his family.

But I'll miss his game very much. I'm very glad I got to meet him this summer

[Mifsnavassy]

I'm gonna miss Jonas. But at least he got to go out on a high(ish) note.

[JeorgeNoxeref]

I would have liked for him to take the title, just for a 'Final Touch" -- and originally picked B/U to win in the Predictions; but went back and changed it to the Bryans. Just can't pick against the Bryans.

[DoctoNilsonDen]

Perhaps we actually have TAT consensus that Bjorkman is just a class act?!?! 'Tis a shame that he wasn't able to pull out a Thomas Johansson singles Slam.

Will be missed, and I also wish him the best. Thanks for the great matches.

[Gastonleruanich]

I couldn't sleep last night. So I got up and decided to watch the end of this match so I could see if this was going to be it for Jonas or if his career would live to see another day. Of course, just a few points into the supertriebreak, the feed from Shanghai went dead, and I missed the end of the match. I was seriously bummed.

Good luck to him, both personally and professionally.

[letittbe]

I couldn't sleep last night. So I got up and decided to watch the end of this match so I could see if this was going to be it for Jonas or if his career would live to see another day. Of course, just a few points into the supertriebreak, the feed from Shanghai went dead, and I missed the end of the match. I was seriously bummed.

Good luck to him, both personally and professionally.

I'm about to pull up the match from the archives on my WebTV subscription and record it - hopefully, they'll stayed on for the retirement ceremony.

[Geetiill]

WHAT??????


He is adorable ... I know cause I've seen him in person!!!




He had a wonderful career!!!




SALUTE!!!!!





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bll10yozxRI

[Geetiill]

I'm about to pull up the match from the archives on my WebTV subscription and record it - hopefully, they'll stayed on for the retirement ceremony.

Hey girl,,, Mrs 3mlmmmm


Where have you been??



Do you really know how to play dice I DO!!




I AM AN EXPERT AT EVERYTHING!!!

[letittbe]

Hey girl,,, Mrs 3mlmmmm
Where have you been??

Do you really know how to play dice I DO!!

I AM AN EXPERT AT EVERYTHING!!!

Wrong person Not 3mlm. Not a Mrs either

[JeorgeNoxeref]

Didn't Jonas win the Good Sportsmanship Award more than once? A real class act indeed. Thanks for the memories Jonas.

[genna]

On balance he has been a gentlemen. However, if memory serves... I recall him talking negatively about either Venus or Serena regarding having them as a tennis partner in doubles. Just can't recall the exact quote, but it kind of turned me off of him after that.

Does not take away from his solid and consistent tennis career.

[letittbe]

Photos from the retirement ceremony:

http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Se...age&src=quick#



SHANGHAI, CHINA - NOVEMBER 14: Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden hugs the audience at a ceremony following his final match before retirement during the Tennis Masters Cup Qi Zhong Stadium November 14, 2008 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

[enurneAcourdy]

The game already misses him. He's seriously retiring from doubles too?

[Lvnufcdc]

On balance he has been a gentlemen. However, if memory serves... I recall him talking negatively about either Venus or Serena regarding having them as a tennis partner in doubles. Just can't recall the exact quote, but it kind of turned me off of him after that.

Probably this from 2003?
STOCKHOLM, Jan 26 AFP - Swedish tennis player Jonas Bjorkman says the all-conquering Williams sisters have a bad attitude and have let their huge success go to their heads.

"They are good players but they've really got a bad attitude," 30-year-old Bjorkman told a Swedish radio station on Sunday.

"I can't imagine ever playing mixed doubles with girls like that.

"They've got so little respect for other people and they live in an illusory world" http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-71282671.html