Will Joachim Johansson Ever Return To The World's Top 10?

The question is: Will Joachim Johansson Ever Return To The World's Top 10?

Here is a bit of background information about Joachim Johansson:

Joachim Johansson had his first taste of action in the big time during November 1997 (aged 15 years, 4 months) when he took part in qualifying for the Stockholm Open - he failed to win a match.

He had his first ever world ranking on July 13, 1998 when he was ranked 1332T in the world. He had just turned 16 years old and earned his ranking having won one Bastad qualifying match.

Between July 1999 and July 2000, he lost his world ranking. He gained it back after playing in his first ATP Tour event in Bastad in July 2000 - he was ranked 962T on 24 July, 2000 and had just turned 18.

Since being ranked 962T on 24 July 2000, here are the strides he has made in the world rankings:

Nov 20, 2000, Top 900 - Aged 18, 4 months
Nov 27, 2000, Top 800 - Aged 18, 4 months
Feb 19, 2001, Top 700 - Aged 18, 7 months
Mar 19, 2001 Top 600 - Aged 18, 8 months
Apr 09, 2001 Top 500 - Aged 18, 9 months
May 21, 2001 Top 400 - Aged 18, 10 months
Sep 10, 2001 Top 500 - Aged 19, 2 months
Oct 29, 2001 Top 400 - Aged 19, 3 months
Nov 26, 2001 Top 500 - Aged 19, 4 months
Dec 03, 2001 Top 400 - Aged 19, 5 months
Feb 18, 2002 Top 500 - Aged 19, 7 months
Feb 25, 2002 Top 400 - Aged 19, 7 months
Apr 08, 2002 Top 500 - Aged 19, 9 months
May 20, 2002 Top 600 - Aged 19, 10 months
Jun 10, 2002 Top 500 - Aged 19, 11 months
Aug 19, 2002 Top 400 - Aged 20, 1 month
Sep 30, 2002 Top 300 - Aged 20, 2 months
Mar 31, 2003 Top 200 - Aged 20, 8 months
Dec 08, 2003 Top 100 - Aged 21, 5 months
Feb 02, 2004 Top 80 - Aged 21, 7 months
Feb 23, 2004 Top 50 - Aged 21, 7 months
Mar 22, 2004 Top 60 - Aged 21, 8 months
Apr 19, 2004 Top 50 - Aged 21, 9 months
Jul 05, 2004 Top 40 - Aged 22, 0 months
Aug 09, 2004 Top 30 - Aged 22, 1 month
Sep 13, 2004 Top 20 - Aged 22, 2 months
Feb 14, 2005 Top 10 - Aged 22, 7 months
Feb 21, 2005 Top 20 - Aged 22, 7 months
Jun 06, 2005 Top 10 - Aged 22, 11 months
Jul 04, 2005 Top 20 - Aged 23, 0 months

But on the week commencing July 4, 2005, Johansson played his last match for seven months in Bastad. He would only play one ATP Tour match for the next 15 months (until October 2006). This was due to right shoulder surgery that he had on July 27, 2005.

He reached the SF of Stockholm in October 2006, the R16 of Madrid in October 2006 (where he had to withdraw from his match against Fernando Gonzalez with a throat infection), the SF of Adelaide in January 2007 and the R128 of the Australian Open in January 2007 - where he retired from his match against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez with an infected blister.

He hadn't played since the Australian Open in January due to a shoulder injury, but he returned to action on Friday for Sweden in the Davis Cup SF, losing 6-7 (4/7) 6-7 (3/7) 3-6 to Andy Roddick of the USA. His current world ranking is 162.

Stats:

- His highest world ranking is 9, and he has been in the world's top 10 for a combined total of 5 weeks.

- He has won three ATP Tour titles from three finals - those victories came in Memphis (2004), Adelaide (2005) and Marseille (2005).

- His record on the ATP Tour is 65 wins, 52 losses

- He has played in 9 Grand Slam events, losing four times in R128, twice in R32, twice in R16 and once in the SF.

- He turned 25 years old on July 1, 2007.

No.

I voted yes. I think he could do it quite quickly as well.

He played really well against Roddick and beat Nadal last year after a similar lay-off.

No too many youngsters breaking through. And with the older guys like Roddick and Federer around, it's going to be tough.

i dont see why not. When he is not injured he is a force to be reckoned with on the tour and with the state of the mens game recently with 1-3 hogging up 99.9% of all points, anyone can get in the top 10

Yes he will.

The top ten has seen the likes of Davyfixer, Boredo and Ljuba Truba latley. No doubt it will happen.

I hate to say it but he is probably almost injured again already. :rolleyes: I really doubt he can play enough tournaments at full fitness to get anywhere near the top 10.

You've also got to ask yourself whether it is harder to get in the top 10 now than it was the first time he achieved it. Back then, the likes of Andre Agassi, Marat Safin, Gustavo Kuerten, Lleyton Hewitt, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Carlos Moya, Gaston Gaudio, Thomas Johansson, Albert Costa and David Nalbandian were in and around the top 10...or not too far off anyway.

First of all, he will have to be able to play a full season or close to one without injury.

Answer is no. He's a great player when healthy which is turning out to be not very often, but with all the injuries over the past few years it's doubtful he can even remain 100% to make a strong charge to the top 10. There's no reason to doubt him reaching the top 50 very soon, unless his body breaks down again.

I hate to say it but he is probably almost injured again already. :rolleyes: I really doubt he can play enough tournaments at full fitness to get anywhere near the top 10.

I think you're right. It's likely that he will be injured again. I don't know, maybe there's something with his serve that harms his shoulder. Nevertheless, I don't think he'll be able to play an entire season.

No.

Besides, he'd have to have a huge run over the course of 12 months (while he isn't expected to play TMS events as part of his ranking) and he will never stay fit for long enough.

Reminds me that he was once a Top10 player.

Its going to be hard for him to get into the Top10 now - there are so many youngsters like Djokovic, Gasquet, Nadal and Berdych, as well as Federer, Roddick and others like Davydenko, Robredo and Ferrer that are in the way too.

He has the game, but it's too hard for him to remain healthy... shoulder problems are probably one of the worst possible ailments a tennis player could have.

No

he could do some damage on the tour, but he's no top 10 material.

Only if he believes himself, gets a good coach and trains hard.

If he stays injury free, i've no doubt he'll be able to do it, he really has a good game, although not as good for clay but hard and grass suits him perfect.

If he stays injury free, i've no doubt he'll be able to do it, he really has a good game, although not as good for clay but hard and grass suits him perfect.

Even if he's able to avoid injuries (which is unlikely), there are other players with a big serve and a decent forehand. A lot of them are even younger and healthier.

To reach the top ten, Pim Pim would have to play consistent tennis for 10-11 months per year. And a lot of the tournaments are played on clay.

I just don't think he will reach the top ten. Even if the shoulder is fine, there might be some nasty blisters. Blisters can force you to retire at 1-1 in the first round of a GS.

No.

His match record is crazy for a quality player like him.

I don't think he will be able to stay injury free long enough.

I hope he will coz he deserves it!
GL,Pim-Pim!:hug:

Tommy Boredo made it back to top 10 a week after going out of it, of he can, then PimPim can do it no problem.

I hope he can.

His kind of injury for any player is very tricky. But for a player for whom the serve is integral to everything else falling in place he needs to ensure he doesn't reinjure it.

I believe he can play top 10 tennis, but whether he can do it consistently over 12+ months and avoid injuries remains to be seen. Good luck to him anyway.

Highly unlikely. It would be nice if he could remain injury free because he may never a top 5 type player or a slam winner, but he will be a very interesting one-match type of match up on any non-clay surface.

I voted yes. I think he could do it quite quickly as well.

He played really well against Roddick and beat Nadal last year after a similar lay-off.

No, don't joke me.

He has no chance.

Highly unlikely. It would be nice if he could remain injury free because he may never a top 5 type player or a slam winner, but he will be a very interesting one-match type of match up on any non-clay surface.

I certainly think he has more game than Ivo Karlovic. He has greater mental strength as well.

I believe he can play top 10 tennis, but whether he can do it consistently over 12+ months and avoid injuries remains to be seen. Good luck to him anyway.

Yes, He got chance to beat a Top 10, Absolute He can do it. But make it to Top 10 that's too tought for him.

No

If Roddick can be a top 10, it means half the top 100 can.

i hope so. pim pim is responsible for a lot of interesting matchups. So i hope he comes back playing his best.