Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Johansson stuns Hewitt on return

Joachim Johansson
Johansson has won ATP titles in Marseille, Adelaide and Memphis

Sweden's Joachim Johansson produced a magnificent performance in his first ATP match of the year to defeat Lleyton Hewitt 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 in Malaysia.

The 27-year-old former world number nine has seen his career all but ruined by a succession of injuries, forcing him into retirement in February, 2008.

However, he has taken tentative steps back on the lesser Challenger Tour, playing eight matches so far in 2009.

And Johansson is back on the ATP Tour in Malaysia thanks to a wild card.

He has won three ATP Tour singles titles during his career and reached the semi-finals of the 2004 US Open, beating defending champion Andy Roddick on the way.

A persistent shoulder injury looked to have cut short a career that, to date, peaked with a world ranking of nine in February, 2005.

After falling close to 800 in the rankings, Johansson - who has enjoyed wins over Rafael Nadal, Juan Martin del Potro and Nikolay Davydenko - has climbed back up to 446th.

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