Ymer makes winning return after 18-month anti-doping ban

Former world No. 50 Mikael Ymer made an instant impact on his return to professional tennis following an 18-month anti-doping suspension, winning his first event back on the ITF World Tennis Tour at M25 Esch/Alzette.

The 26-year-old Swede defeated current junior world No. 1 Nicolai Budkov Kjaer 6-1 5-7 6-2 to win his first professional singles crown since 2019.

Ymer briefly announced his retirement from the sport in July 2023 shortly after being banned by the International Tennis Integrity Agency for missing three out-of-competition doping tests, before deciding to resume his career at the end of the suspension.

Ymer was at the peak of his powers at the time, reaching the third at Wimbledon for the first time – his joint-best Grand Slam result, having also reached that stage at the 2021 Australian Open, and at Roland Garros in 2021 and 2022.

He is set to return to the Swedish Davis Cup team this week for their Qualifier clash with Australia at the Royal Tennis Hall in Stockholm on 31 January - 1 February, with brother Elias a late withdrawal from Simon Aspelin's squad.

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