STOCKHOLM (AP)—Sweden’s top player Robin Soderling says he won’t participate in the Davis Cup quarterfinal between Sweden and Serbia in July.
The fifth-seeded Swede, who lost to Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals of the French Open last week, says he was forced to opt out of one event in his busy schedule to avoid injuries.
Soderling said Thursday he must respect his physical limits and “the intensive match schedule, my sore foot and the overall physical and mental effort makes it impossible to participate.”
Sweden’s Davis Cup Captain Thomas Enqvist said he regrets Soderling’s decision and says Sweden’s chances to win against Serbia have been lowered.
However, he said he sees the decision as a “one-off.”
Sweden meets defending champion Serbia in Halmstad on July 8-10.