Tennis: Sorensen on road to recovery with eyes on Italy return
Louk Sorensen is set to make his comeback from injury within the next fortnight. Sorensen, who won three matches in the Australian Open qualifying and an additional match in the main draw, has been sidelined from competitive action since the ATP Challenger Tour event in Kazan, Russia, on February 1.
A hamstring injury which he picked up in the Melbourne Park event ruled the Stuttgart-based right-hander out of Ireland's Davis Cup win over Turkey in early March, at Dublin's Fitzwilliam, and also out of all tournament activity over the last three months.
But Sorensen resumed practice last week, and his father, Sean, the Ireland Davis Cup team boss, hopes that the Irish No 1 will return to action either next week or the subsequent week.
"If the hamstring doesn't give Louk any problems over the next week, he could return in a Challenger tournament in Biella, Italy, next week," explained Sorensen senior.
"But if Louk decides that tournament is a bit too soon for him, hopefully he will be 100pc for the qualifying of the French Open, which starts the following week.
"He expects to make a decision towards the end of this week on which tournament he will resume playing in."
It was only at the 11th hour that Sorensen pulled out of the Davis Cup tie, his father having expressed himself optimistic on the day prior to the opening two singles that Louk would be fit to line out against the Turks.
Despite three months of tournament inactivity, Sorensen has dropped only seven places in the ATP singles world rankings from his career-high mark of 213 to 220, two places ahead of his Davis Cup team-mate Conor Niland.
His run to the second round of the Australian Open, in which he shocked Taipei's 101-ranked Yen-Sun Lu in four sets, and lost to America's 20-ranked John Isner in three sets, netted him 70 world rankings points and led to him making a jump of 71 places from 284.
He also picked up a cheque for Aus$31,500 (€22,038).
Meanwhile, Dubliner John Morrissey has been named on an ITF/Grand Slam Junior Touring team which will compete in a series of junior tournaments during this month, June and July in Europe.
The programme will include the French Open from May 30 to June 6, and the Wimbledon Championships from June 26 to July 4. Morrissey is currently placed at No 38 in the ITF world U-18 rankings.
- Paddy Hickey
