By Erik Gudris | @ATNTennis | Friday August 25, 2023
Twenty-four-year-old Mikael Ymer of Sweden surprised the tennis world after announcing on social media today that he was immediately retiring from tennis.
Ymer announced his decision after failing to overturn a suspension from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) over an anti-doping rule violation.
“I’ve decided to retire from professional tennis,” Ymer wrote on his X account. “Thank you all for the amazing memories! What a ride it’s been! I wish all my old colleagues well going forward in competition. God is great always.”
Ymer was charged by the ITF with a potential anti-doping violation in January of 2022 for missing three out-of-competition test attempts within a 12-month period. He fought the charges and later said he had been cleared by an independent tribunal in June 2022.
However, the ITF appealed the decision. That prompted the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to uphold the two-year ban partially and then later impose an 18-month suspension in July of 2023.
Ymer achieved a career-high ranking of World No. 50 and also represented Sweden in the Davis Cup along with his older brother Elias. Both brothers won the Stockholm Open doubles title in 2016.
Mikael Ymer’s best singles result was reaching the finals of the ATP 250 event in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 2021. During his run to the final he defeated the then No. 15 seed Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals and still holds a 2-0 head to head over the current World No. 1.
Ymer also made the third round at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
Photo credit: Tennis TV