Joachim stokes blue and gold army
from the Australian by Patrick Miles
22 January 2005

SINCE 1983, when Mats Wilander started a five-year streak of Swedish success at the Australian Open, the tournament has become a popular destination for the nomadic hordes from the north.

Every year, Melbourne Park resounds to the incomprehensible chants of the blue and yellow army, who join organised tours to escape the Swedish winter and revel in the exploits of their countrymen in the sun.

Every year, they had someone to cheer, someone who could take them well into the fortnight, and for a long time, they have had generous Jonas Bjorkman to procure centre-court tickets for them.

Wilander and Stefan Edberg shared the men's singles title between them from 1983 to 1988, the former winning three times and the latter twice. The event was not held in 1986 as the date changed from December to January.

Then Bjorkman and Thomas Enqvist, runner-up in 1999, made their presence felt, then Magnus Norman, a semi-finalist in 2000, stepped up, followed by an unexpected triumph for Thomas Johansson in 2002.

But more recently, there have been less reasons to be cheerful for the Swedish contingent as the line of ascendancy that began with Bjorn Borg in the 1970s came to a halt.

All blue eyes are now on Joachim Johansson, who is expected to bring Sweden back to the top of the pile.

At the age of 22, Johansson is his country's leading light and it is hoped he will drag some others -- Robin Soderling, Andreas Vinciguerra and Michael Ryderstedt -- along with him.

"'Well, I'm not sure if I feel it, but at the moment, I'm the best-ranked Swede," Johansson said. "I know Soderling is right behind me. I think there's a few guys coming up, like Ryderstedt. But I don't mind being the No.1 Swede at the moment."

With Bjorkman, Enqvist and Soderling all losing in the first round at Melbourne Park this week, it was left to the Johanssons to fly the flag.

Thomas Johansson moved into the fourth round yesterday with a 3-6 6-2 6-7 (7-4) 6-2 6-2 win over Kevin Kim of the US.

Joachim Johansson, who was in action late last night, entered the Australian Open with a world ranking of No.11. If he improves on his third-round appearance of last year, there is every chance he will enter the top 10, becoming the eighth Swede to do so; and should he manage to take his powerful, all-court game to the top, he would become the fourth man from his country to be No.1.

Borg was No.1 for 109 weeks, Edberg for 72 and Wilander 20; Norman reached No.2 in the world, Bjorkman and Enqvist both No.4 and Thomas Johansson No.7.

As Joachim Johansson approaches the upper echelon, he seems remarkably unconcerned with the legacy left by his great compatriots. Asked if he felt a sense of pride about Sweden's tennis history, he said: "I don't know. I know I'm playing because I enjoy it and there's no pride for me for anything."

Johannsson is starting to experience the scrutiny, though, from Swedes who crave a return to the halcyon days.

As he has risen up the rankings in spectacular fashion, more than 100 places in a season, his relationship with Jaslyn Hewitt, Lleyton's younger sister, has brought him into contact with the most determined man in the business, and it is paying off on court.

Defeating Andy Roddick to reach the semi-finals of last year's US Open was a good indication of how far he has come, although Wilander is not entirely convinced.

"I don't think he's a candidate yet to win a Grand Slam, but he's a candidate to beat a Federer or a Hewitt, and he beat Roddick in the US Open," Wilander said yesterday.

"We are putting a bit of pressure on him but at the same time, he's responded to that in the last 12 months by coming out and totally changing his game. He's gone to 11 in the world in 12 months, so I suppose we're a little surprised he's there already.

"Now it remains to see what happens from here. He's been playing Davis Cup, and he's a great kid, so I think he can handle it."