Sverigeettan Mikael Ymer won the Swedish Open title in Bastad.
The 23-year-old has received heavy criticism – and is now speaking for the first time.
– The reason for not playing in Båstad is the same reason why Zlatan did not play in Allsvenskan, Mikael Ymer tells Tennisportalen.
Players such as Norway’s Kasper Ruud, ranked sixth in the world, and world number eight Andrei Rublev will attend the Swedish ATP Tour in Bastad in July.
That didn’t happen Michael Ymir.
Sverigeettan doesn’t really have a high enough ranking (88th in the world) to qualify for the tournament on his own, so he was offered a wildcard – something he declined.
received harsh criticism
According to Sportbladet columnist Marcus Leifby, Ymer wanted to pay to participate in the tournament, something the organizer could not provide.
We did not negotiate with Michael’s agent. “We’ve made it clear that we don’t have an opportunity to pay anyone who doesn’t participate in the competition,” said Magnus Norman, Tournament Director.
Marcus Levbi called Michael Ymir in his column “Por Ymir” and claimed that the 23-year-old was influenced by “utterly damned arrogance”.
Sportbladet’s columnist answers
Sportbladet has sought dealer Mikael Ymer for comment but to no avail. But now Tennis Portalen spoke with Mikael Ymir on site at Wimbledon, where the Swede went into the second round today.
In the interview, he was asked about criticism in general and Levi’s story in particular.
I am a person who is good at separating job and personality. Sure, it was personal, but I also understand he needed something to sell. It’s Aftonbladet, not DN (Dagens nyheter). If he did it in a nice way, he wouldn’t click. I’m sure he would have asked for a picture if he had met me in person. It’s okay, I just love him. Is his name Marcus? Ymir says:
– I just love him and understand that work is work.
The one who, on the other hand, accepted his allowance is Mikael’s older brother Ilyas Ymir. The men’s tournament begins at Stadion on July 10.