Robin Soderling

“I used to be able to practice, get a massage, have something to eat and feel ready for the rest of the day.”

“I feel really good, then I start to practice, and then I think maybe in a couple of months I can come back and I really believe it. Then I do a bit too much and wake up one morning not feeling well again.”

“I was in bed with cold sweats, all different symptoms. It was really terrible for a long time, and when the fever went away there was all this weakness and tiredness.”

“For a long time I couldn't even watch tennis on TV because I missed it too much. I was bitter and upset because it didn't seem fair. I was young and it was tough to see players that I played against my age, even older performing well.”

“All my life, I've been focusing on tennis, training, getting results. Jenni and I wanted to have kids pretty early, but we waited. We always thought it was better in the future. Now I don't understand why we ever waited.”

“I am really proud of other things in my career: being in the top five, reaching the final of a grand slam twice. I'm actually even more proud of making it to the French Open final in 2010 than the previous year.”

“I love to train hard. My only answer to setbacks was pushing harder.”

“There's no shame in speaking about mental illness. It's a very common problem in today's society, no matter if you're playing sports or working in another field. It's something that needs to be spoken about a lot more.”

“I was the perfect person to have a burnout because I was not listening to my body at all.”

“No one gives you information and tools on how you are supposed to handle the pressure both on and off the court.”

“Then after a few years I felt good in daily life but as soon as I started to push my body the symptoms came back and I had no strength at all. I got so tired. After an easy practice session all I wanted to do was sleep for days.”

“In 2011, I was in the best physical shape of my life. I was one of the five best players in the world and I had won four titles by the end of July. But from one day to another, I couldn't take a step. I couldn't breathe.”

“When I got on court I felt really confident, really good but I also felt like there was no pressure. No-one expected to me to win so I tried to see it as there's only an upside.”