VAXJO. Sweden. Dec 31 (Reuter): Back on CoUrtaf-ter the most spectacular year of his career. Jonas Bjorkman has been practising less than 30 minutes before he throws his racquet away in frustration.

The top ranking Swede has been struggling with his backhand since early November, and a break from tennis has not helped it gets any better.

"All my years as a tennis player, my strength has been my backhand," said Bjorkman, "'All of a sudden my backhand isn't there."

His opponents must wonder what they can expect when he gets it back.

In the closing weeks of the year Bjorkman collected his third tournament title and then led Sweden to a 5-0 whitewash of the' US in the Davis Cup final.

Those achievements capped a season in which the 25-year-old cracked the top 10 for the first time, soaring from 69th to fourth in the ATP world rank-ings.

Tired after his triumphs. Bjorkman is spending the offseason with friends and family in his southern Swedish town while training at his home club for the Australian Open in January.

Despite his success, the same determination that made Bjorkman's career bloom relatively late produces acute frus-

tration when "bad'tebhhiqtie1''' produces imperfection. 1 '

Coach Fredrik Rosengren says Bjorkman puts too much pressure on himself, which in the past caused him to fall apart in tough matches.

"Jonas' dad and I always thought he was better than ne thought." said Rosengren at the Strandbjoorkshallen.

"We always told him he could

wtau wsisaw himrplaying when he was relaxed and he could playiunbelievably."

It was Bjorkman's improved ability to play to his potential in tight situations that made his 1997 breakthrough possible.

A perfectionist who leaves a hotel room so neat you can't tell he's staying in it. Bjorkman worked with a Swedish sports psychologist this year to learn how to think positively about his ability to win tough matches.

"Before he didn't like these situations." said Rosengren. "He would get very tight, (the psychologist) taught him to try to enjoy them."

Bjorkmans changed approach resulted in an on-court confidence that transformed him from a journeyman into one of the circuit's stars.

"Especially at the end of the year with all the success I had, I was never scared of losing the match." said Bjorkman, who had to change his mobile phone number because of the interest caused by his stunning season.

"I saw the chance of winning the match."

Watch carefully next season and you might catch Bjorkman staring at his thumb during change overs or before serving in tight matches. The focusing technique, taught to him by the psychologist, helps him concentrate on relaxing and lowering his pulse instead of worrying about winning.