South Korean tennis standout Kwon Soon-woo (Dangjin City Hall) is rehabbing with the goal of returning in the fall.
“When I come back, I’ll make sure I’m in the best shape so I don’t get sick again,” Kwon told reporters after signing a sponsorship deal with global sports brand Yonex at the Lotte World Mall at Jamsil Tennis Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on Feb. 28.
Kwon last played in the round of 16 of the men’s singles at the Exxon Mobile Open in Qatar in February against Alejandro Davydovic Fokina (Spain), and has since suspended his tour schedule due to a shoulder injury. Kwon has never had a major injury in his career, but his shoulder has been bothering him since last year.
“I don’t know what movements will cause the pain, so I’m not playing yet,” she said, revealing that she is focusing on treatment and recovery. In her haste to return to the court after a short rehabilitation, she is more cautious as the pain returned. He has also put aside his desire to play two majors, the ongoing French Open and Wimbledon in June. “First of all, recovery is important. If you set a date (for rehabilitation), you get impatient. When I feel like I’m recovering, I’ll naturally move on to the next step,” he said, reiterating that he’s in no rush. “I feel good right now. I need to figure out where I’m going to do my next rehab,” he said, indicating that he’s ready for the next step.
It’s a welcome respite for Kwon, who has been on a grueling tour schedule for years. However, he can’t just enjoy the long rehabilitation period. “It would be easy if I could rest in the offseason,” he says, “but that’s not the case now. I’m trying to focus on my shoulder as much as possible without thinking about anything else,” he said. “I don’t enjoy it, but I try to go out when I have time so that I don’t get too depressed.”
In the long run, Kwon is aiming to play in the US Open at the end of August, the last major of the season. He hasn’t yet resolved his military service issue, so the Asian Games in Hangzhou at the end of September is also important to him. “At the Asian Games, I need to prepare not only for singles but also for doubles in the best possible condition,” Kwon said. When asked if he had a doubles partner in mind, he mentioned his “best friend” Hong Seong-chan (Sejong City Hall). “We haven’t played (doubles) together, but if we play together, we won’t lose to anyone at the Asian Games level,” Kwon said confidently.
Kwon Soon-woo switched rackets this season after her contract ended. Kwon won the Adelaide International on the men’s ATP Tour in January. He became the first South Korean player to win two ATP Tour singles titles. The racket he used was the newly sponsored Yonex V-Core Pro 97.스포츠토토
“I switched rackets and won a tournament after practicing for a month in winter training,” Kwon laughed when he officially announced the deal with Yonex. Changing rackets after using them for more than a decade is quite a change for tennis players. However, Kwon says, “It’s a brand used by many top players on the tour these days, and it’s a racket that many players want to try because it’s well-reviewed. I wanted to try it too,” he said, adding, “I am satisfied with the overall smooth feel of the Yonex racket, which requires less effort.”