LONDON -- The world's top-ranked male player will not be at
Wimbledon.
|  | | Brazil's Gustavo Kuerten will not play at Wimbledon. |
As expected, French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten officially
pulled out of Wimbledon Friday, citing an injury.
The Brazilian, who won his third French Open title Sunday,
previously had said that he planned to skip Wimbledon. He said he
had a sore groin and needed a rest.
But Kuerten also has complained about the seeding system at
Wimbledon, saying it penalizes clay-court experts like himself.
Alex Corretja, losing finalist at the French Open, and other
Spanish clay-court specialists have threatened to boycott Wimbledon
if they are unhappy with the seedings when they are announced
Monday.
Wimbledon has announced it will seed 32 players, instead of 16,
but the order of the men's seedings will take into account
grass-court records.
The tournament begins June 25.
Germany's Alexander Popp, a surprise quarterfinalist last year,
also withdrew, citing a virus. Frenchman Arnaud di Pasquale pulled
out with a back injury.
Already out with injuries are former French Open champion Mary
Pierce, 1996 Wimbledon winner Richard Krajicek and Mark
Philippoussis.
Anna Kournikova also is doubtful for Wimbledon. She pulled out
of next week's grass-court event at Eastbourne and hasn't played
since sustaining a stress fracture in her left foot in March. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories |
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Philippoussis, Pierce withdraw from Wimbledon
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