To widespread applause, Ulf Rosberg was elected as the new chairman of the Swedish Tennis Association on Sunday morning at a hotel in Stockholm. He received a clear majority, 42 out of 50 votes. Opponent Robert Samuelsson, who will remain on the board, received 8 votes.
The election of the chairman took place after a turbulent six months since Rosberg, together with his friend and financial colleague Christer Gardell, made a statement in Dagens Industri in October. The duo promised 100 million to Swedish tennis, with the proviso that the entire federation's board make their seats available during Sunday's federation meeting. Even though Rosberg and Gardell backed down from their original demand, that happened.
Brand new board
I would have liked to see someone or a few people stay to ensure continuity in the board's work. But now it is what it is. The advantage now is that we can work more based on a white paper and set our own agenda. But I will have contact with the old members, said Ulf Rosberg.
Outgoing chairwoman Åsa Hedin, who has served on the board for seven years, six of them as chairwoman, did not want to answer TT's questions about why the entire board chose to step down or not stand for re-election. Three members requested early resignations, and Hedin herself did not stand for re-election.
Rosberg was the nomination committee's majority proposal for the association meeting, even though the nomination committee's chairwoman Petra Tedroff had expressed a dissenting opinion and proposed Robert Samuelsson as chairman.
Dagens Nyheter has reported that the coup attempt may violate the statutes of the Swedish Sports Association (RF). The Nomination Committee's Johan Porsborn wants to emphasize one thing.
Will contact RF chairwoman
The Tennis Association took an early stance that all democratic principles should be followed. They wanted to do the right thing and separated the financial aspects from personal choices, he says.
Ulf Rosberg will contact RF's chairwoman Anna Iwarsson.
I want to clarify so that RF has the whole picture. I hope and believe that they will feel that this has been done well.
Swedish tennis is far from its glory days in the 70s, 80s and 90s. The best men's player is ranked 175th in the world and the best women's player 253rd (Elias Ymer and Kajsa Rinaldo Persson). The national teams are ranked 26th and 27th.
Ulf Rosberg and Christer Gardell have presented a five-point program with two overall focus areas going forward for Swedish tennis: player development and increased support.
What happens to the money?
And the question is what will happen to the 100 million. Rosberg answered vaguely.
"First of all, there is no automaticity to this. Sometime in October and November we will figure out what funding is required if we are going to do this," he said, continuing:
I hope we can bring in companies prepared to join this journey, and the occasional private individual.
The Swedish Tennis Association elected a completely new board in connection with the association meeting in Stockholm on Sunday, April 26, 2026.
New board: Ulf Rosberg (chairman), Frida Jansåker, Linda Jansson, Rikard Roos (all for two years), Cecilia Salaj Wennerholm, Robert Samuelsson and Stefan Engstrand (by-election for one year).
Previous board: Åsa Hedin (chairman), Odd Swarting, Beatrice Cedermark, Marie Hedberg, Emil Holmgren, Johan Kristiansson and Mattias Ottermark.
