Robin Soderling, sidelined for three years with mononucleosis, continues to try to return to tour.
"I haven't retired," he told SI.com. "My dream, is to try to come back."
Soderling said he has started hitting tennis balls again, but while he no longer experiences flu-like symptoms, he can still only endure limited training. Most famous for his 2009 defeat of Rafael Nadal at the French Open, he reached No. 4 in the rankings before he stopped playing in mid-2011.
During his absence, the 29-year-old Swede has become a father, to one-year-old daughter Olivia. He has also created his own type of tennis ball, which is now heading towards production. "Someone asked, what is the best ball. I couldn't come up with an answer, so I tried to develop my own, as a fun project," Soderling said.
He is now also the tournament director for Stockholm, which has given him a different view. "As a player, I always saw tournaments from a player perspective," he said. "Now I see them from an organizational perspective."
But despite these other activities, the two-time French Open finalist wants to try to return to tour and is encouraged by the impressive results recently enjoyed by other veterans. "I've been playing tennis... since I was four, so it's been tough to go without," he said. "I look at Tommy Haas, who is top [20] at 36 years old, and it makes me feel positive.
"I want to quit when I feel it's enough. Right now, it's not enough."