STARNBERG, August 26, 2023

Mikael Ymer has announced his retirement from professional tennis in response to his doping suspension. The 24-year-old Swede shared the news on social media of Friday, stating that the sanction was “unfair.” Ymer emphasized that he had “never used a banned substance” and had not even been accused of doing so.

The Skovde native was suspended for 18 months in July due to three missed doping tests. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) partially upheld an appeal by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). Las year, an independent tribunal had exempted Ymer from sanctions despite three reporting violations in 2021. The ITF had appealed for a two-year suspension.

Hey guys I’ve decided to retire from professional Tennis. Thank you all for the amazing memories! What a ride it’s been! I wish all my old colleagues well going forward in competition.

God is Great always

— Mikael Ymer (@MikaelYmer) August 25, 2023

Currently ranked World No. 80, Ymer, along with his older brother Elias (World No. 170), was considered a hopeful prospect for Sweden, a nation that once had a strong tennis tradition. No other Swedish player is currently positioned higher in the rankings than these two brothers.

Mikael Ymer captured four career titles on the ATP Challenger Tour and reached his only tour-level final in 2021 in Winston-Salem, but lost the match. He reached a career-high ranking of World No. 50.