from Expressen.se
by Linus Sunnervik
translated into English by Mauro Cappiello

Despite a "perfect match" Stefan Edberg parted ways from Roger Federer. The tennis legend now tells about his friendship with Federer and why he has said no to SVT's popular tv show Mästarnas MästareMästarnas Mästare (The Master of Champions) is a Swedish tv competition-show based on the Belgian format "Eeuwige Roem". The program involves a number of former sports stars, who have all been champions in their sports and face each other in different disciplines until only one remains, to be elected the Master of Champions.. "I am happy to keep a lower profile," said Edberg.

from Expressen.se
by Linus Sunnervik
translated into English by Mauro Cappiello

Sweden was the best - in the world's largest sports. A dozen Swedes spurred each other to success - and two guys from Småland ruled the world. The talents of that era now explain the recipe behind the "miracle year 1988".

- It was quite unique, says Stefan Edberg.

A chapter in the Swedish sports history, best known as the Swedish tennis miracle.

With Björn Borg, interest for tennis exploded in Sweden, and a decade later turned into a huge success. Ranking-wise, the Swedes conquered the world in the mid-1980s.

But the year 1988 was the zenith moment of everything.

Two guys from Småland - Mats Wilander and Stefan Edberg - won the world's four major tournaments. A feat that has never been repeated in tennis history afterwards.

- It was something fantastic for me and Mats, and for everyone involved. Something we would never experience again. It was absolutely amazing, says Edberg.

The fifth edition of the Kings of Tennis, the Stockholm stage of the ATP Champions Tour, will take place at the Stockholm Waterfront from March 16th to 18th without Stefan Edberg for the second year in a row.

In spite of ending his partnership with Roger Federer and having more time for himself, Stefan decided to skip the tournament, delaying his return to senior tennis, his last appearance dating back to the final of the Stockholm event against Thomas Enqvist exactly two years ago.

Five legends will take part to this year’s edition, with the highlights of 2012 champion John McEnroe and Mats Wilander. Henri Leconte, Pat Cash and Thomas Muster will complete the field, while Thomas Enqvist will only appear in a doubles exhibition.

The five player format forced the organizers to a program made up of two semifinals, with Pat Cash who’ll wait for the winner of the qualifying match between Muster and Leconte. (mc)

On March 8th in Jönköping, a Swedish town in the region of Småland two hours by car from Västervik, the local tennis club will celebrate the World Tennis Day with a Mini Challenger event that will field 24 teams of juniors aged 14-18, representing as many Swedish tennis clubs.

This sort of mini Davis Cup will be held in connection with the ATP Challenger tournament and will have Stefan Edberg as special guest, the website of the Swedish Tennis Federation reports.

Stefan will have a lecture about his two years as coach of Roger Federer and will be once more an inspiration for lots of Swedish kids playing tennis.

The prize for the winners of the competition will be a two-day tennis camp at the Ready Play Academy in Växjö, run by Stefan Edberg, Magnus Larsson and Carl-Axel Hageskog. (mc)

Download the full schedule of the day (in Swedish)»

Almost every year during his professional career Stefan Edberg has celebrated his birthday at the Australian Open and, whenever he has played on January 19th, he has never lost a match.

Now that he has turned 50 years old, we want to recall his career at the Australian Open with 50 images from his moments at what has become the first Grand Slam event of the year.

A tournament that has been at the same time so successful and so painful for him.

After his straight sets victory against Tomas Berdych, Roger Federer was invited in the "Game, Set and Mats" studio to have a short conversation with Mats Wilander.

The former number one from Sweden, now an analyst for Eurosport, asked the Swiss how he is trying to combine the technical approaches of his last two coaches, Edberg and Ljubicic, saying that Stefan's influence is still clearly visible in his more offensive game.

In the video below you can watch Roger's answer and, once again, his words full of gratitude and appreciation for his advisor, who is no longer in his team this year, but we are sure will find the time to watch Roger's semifinal against Novak Djokovic on TV from Sweden. (mc)

During Roger Federer's second round match with Dolgopolov at the Australian Open, the press noticed a particularly good performance by the Swiss on the defensive side and tried to solicit him on this point in the media room.

The 17-time Major winner said he has worked on defense as well in the offseason, but denied he has done a specific preparation on this aspect of his game, confirming (like he had already done before the Australian Open) that his training routine has not changed since Stefan Edberg's departure from his team.

«I like to work on my strength most of the time, the offensive part of my game, serve and volley, taking the forehand early, you know, using my backhand as a variation,» replied the Swiss.

from The Challenge (Arnesen-Tennis)
by Jonas Arnesen *
translated into English by Mauro Cappiello

Today Stefan Edberg turns 50 years old. Big and hearty congratulations! But what else should I write that has not already been written or said about the sympathetic Västervik Son?

Six Grand Slam titles in singles, three in doubles, a total of 41 singles and 18 doubles titles, three Davis Cup victories, the Olympic bronze and 72 weeks as world number one.

That's a mini summary of his fabulous career that I have been privileged to follow as a journalist.

It started back in the early 1980s, when Stefan's father Bengt was kind enough to call the Barometern newspaper in Kalmar to tell his kid had played and how it had gone.

Usually it went well. Very well.

But Stefan himself was not so talkative. He hasn't been in recent years, either.

As a star in the spotlight in one of the world's largest sports, he managed to preserve his reclusive ways. Similarly, after the end of his career. When other former top players criticized - sometimes very loudly - their successors, Stefan kept quiet.

Sure, once you've sometimes wished that he would have burst in public, for example on how things have been managed in Swedish tennis over the years, but no, we will probably never get to experience the day when Stefan Edberg will go out and criticize someone.

Roger Federer is no longer working with Stefan Edberg, but still speaks with great affection of the period with the tennis legend in his team. The Swiss, who advanced to the third round of the Australian Open with a victory in straight sets over Alexandr Dolgopolov, talked about Stefan in the post-match media conference.

"Well, I have gotten used to Ivan Ljubicic now being on the team for the last month or so. It's not that different anymore like it was in the beginning. But it was always special, of course, looking up to the player box and see Stefan there. It's always been kind of surreal to have his support. So we had a very cool experience," said Federer.

For his 50th birthday, Stefan Edberg was reached on the phone by Johanna Jonsson, a contributor of the Swedish Tennis Federation website, who asked him how he spent this special day.

"I'm at home right now, but there will be no big party today. There was a little surprise after midnight here and I was celebrated by friends and acquaintances.”

The journalist also asked him to make an assessment of his life so far: "A lot has happened during these 50 years, - replied Stefan. - Looking back, I've had 50 good years in every way and above all I have experienced a lot of tennis. I have been with my wife for 30 years and feel healthy. I am absolutely satisfied and have nothing to complain about."