"It's damn boring to just party all the time"

During the suspension, he partied around the world and liked the atmosphere in Los Angeles the most. Over time, he started to feel an itch in his body – Mikael Ymer missed tennis. It came just overnight, one evening, says the Swede who is now getting ready for Sweden's Davis Cup meeting with Australia.

» Published: Wed 29 Jan 2025 12:25 CET

The tennis player describes the message about the suspension as a shock. Mikael Ymer's three misses in residence reporting meant that he was not allowed to play or train tennis for 18 months.

I was really surprised. Three judges had given us the green light, voted in our favor, and my lawyer in the USA, who we brought in, was also positive, he says.

It was a shock for me and everyone else.

Shortly after the message, the Swede announced that his career was over.

Started partying

When he left the strict life on the pro tour, other things took the place of tennis.

He started partying.

The 26-year-old – who emphasizes that he is a teetotaler – traveled the world, turned days into nights, and got stuck on the atmosphere in Los Angeles.

There and then he liked his new life, but during a dinner – where his tennis career came up – he immediately got the urge back.

I had seen the other side of life, it had been fun, but the next ten years I know what I want to do – and it's this, he says.

I started the comeback immediately. It's damn boring to just party all the time.

New daily rhythm

The step back was a high threshold to take for Ymer, who in his career had been ranked 50th at best.

I needed to go to bed at 21.30, not 03, and skip training days. In the beginning, it was a small shock, but now it's calm. I also skipped "Cola Zero" at dinner yesterday (on Tuesday), which was a long time since I did. It's going slowly but surely forward.

Mikael Ymer started training on his own in September-October and from November got to train in organized activities.

Won in Luxembourg

Last week, he made a comeback at an ITF tournament – one level below ATP and Challenger tours – in Luxembourg and brought home a fresh title.

"A good receipt", he says himself, but is also aware that the journey back is long.

I have a bit left to the level I've been at and where we want to be. It will take time, but we have patience and try to do the right thing day by day.

But I've taken myself through 18 months, so this way is in a way easier than the one I've gone. This is a "battle" I must take and which I'm ready to take.

Next, however, awaits another "battle", as Mikael Ymer is part of Sweden's Davis Cup team, which on Friday and Saturday faces Australia at the Royal Tennis Hall.