24 Dec 2015

Soderling retires four years after last match

12:05 pm on 24 December 2015

Swedish tennis player Robin Soderling has announced his retirement from tennis, more than four years after his last match.

The first player to beat Rafael Nadal at the French Open in the 2009 fourth round last played a match in July, 2011 after coming down with glandular fever.

Robin Soderling reached the 2009 and 2010 finals at Roland Garros.

Robin Soderling reached the 2009 and 2010 finals at Roland Garros. Photo: Photosport

The 31-year-old said he had realised he would never get fit enough again to return to the professional circuit.

Soderling reached the Roland Garros final in 2009 and 2010, and got as high as fourth on the world rankings.