By D-Up                                                                            Photo Credit: Mark Howard


(August 31, 2011) Sixth-seeded Robin Soderling has been forced again to back out of a tournament. This time, it’s the U.S. Open. Slated to play Irish qualifier Louk Sorenson, the Swede withdrew due to illness, with the nature of the problem undefined.

Instead, Sorenson will face lucky loser Rogerio Dutra Da Silva in the first round, who will be playing in his first ever main draw at a grand slam.

The Swede has been plagued by injury as of late missing multiple U.S. Open Series tournaments in the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati as well as the Rogers Cup in Montreal due to a lingering right wrist injury.

There has been much speculation in the last month as to whether or not Soderling would be able to play at the Open, and play at a high level. However, he won’t be playing at all. Soderling was very hopeful that he’d get to participate in the last grand slam of the season.