ESPN.com - TENNIS - Kuerten may skip Wimbledon

French Open 2001




 
Friday, June 8
Kuerten may skip Wimbledon



PARIS -- Gustavo Kuerten most likely will take a rest and skip Wimbledon, a tournament not suited to his clay-court game.

"Definitely, I need the break," Kuerten said Friday. "Yes, I think it is almost sure."

Wimbledon starts June 25, perhaps too soon after the French Open for the top-ranked Brazilian to adjust to grass courts.

"To play in Wimbledon, maybe, is going to be too much," Kuerten said after winning his French Open semifinal against Juan Carlos Ferrero.

After winning last year in Paris, Kuerten went to Wimbledon and was eliminated in the third round, bothered by a head cold. He made the quarterfinals in 1999.

"Last year, I played Wimbledon, I got sick. It was not a good experience," he said. "Maybe for this year, I'll have a little break."

Physically he feels fine, but Kuerten said he would consult with doctors before making his decision.

In April, Kuerten said he might boycott Wimbledon to protest the way players are seeded. Wimbledon allocates seedings based on a player's ability on grass, while the three other Grand Slams follow ATP rankings.

Tournament officials will announce next week on how the seeding system will be arranged.

Spaniards Alex Corretja and Ferrero, who have also threatened a boycott, plan to wait for the announcement before deciding on Wimbledon.

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