Soderling or Nadal?

The question is who is the more likely to make a successful comeback? Nadal hasn't played due to his foot injury since Wmbledon this year and Soderling since early on in the summer 2011 apparently due to glandular fever.

Nadal's body must be feeling the strain although rumours suggest he will be making a return in some exhibition matches next month before competing again at tour and slam level next year. Soderling, on the other hand, seemingly has no comeback date is his diary and appears to be struggling as much as Ancic did before him from the virus which can unfortunately return at a later date.

For different reasons I think they will both struggle. Nadal because of the repetitive nature of his ongoing injuries and Soderling because a prolonged absence of more than 18 months from the tour is hard for anyone to recover from.

Sadly, I think Soderling is probably finished. Nadal will be ok, at least for a year or two.

Also where's Davydenko?

Soderling's goose is likely cooked. Shame as he was a threat to any of the top guys. The problem is that he doesnt have a ranking anymore...so he's going to have to battle through the challenger circuit even if he came back. Tough call when you're 28-29 years old after years on tour with a new wife and family. Its been nearly 18 months now...strange that he's not even been close to coming back. Ancic for all the trouble he had (what a loss he was) still came back after 6 months for a 2nd stab even though he'd been in bed for 10 weeks March-June 07. Yet we hear nothing from Soderling. So I'm not sure if he's ill or just grew tired of the tour.

Nadal is different. Still #4 and will rise near the top when he comes back, he's too good a player to just disappear down the rankings. It all depends on his knee holding out...if it does he'll be contending for slams again from FO onwards.

lydian wrote:Soderling's goose is likely cooked. Shame as he was a threat to any of the top guys. The problem is that he doesnt have a ranking anymore...so he's going to have to battle through the challenger circuit even if he came back. Tough call when you're 28-29 years old after years on tour with a new wife and family. Its been nearly 18 months now...strange that he's not even been close to coming back. Ancic for all the trouble he had (what a loss he was) still came back after 6 months for a 2nd stab even though he'd been in bed for 10 weeks March-June 07. Yet we hear nothing from Soderling. So I'm not sure if he's ill or just grew tired of the tour..

It's a shame, I was never a huge Soderling fan but it was good to have another potentially dangerous competitor out there.

lydian wrote:Nadal is different. Still #4 and will rise near the top when he comes back, he's too good a player to just disappear down the rankings. It all depends on his knee holding out...if it does he'll be contending for slams again from FO onwards.

Let's hope it does