Wimbledon (England), June 15: Former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic has pulled out of the tournament for the second year in a row, championship officials said today. The big-serving lefthander, who had a storybook victory two years ago as the first wild card to win a grand slam tournament, sustained a knee injury while practicing with Croatian teammate Mario Ancic earlier this week.
That came after he had lost to Jan Vacek at the Queens Court Grass Court Championship in London on Monday. Wimbledon starts on June 23 and the colourful Croatian star, whose career has been plagued by shoulder, knee and foot problems, doesn't think he will be fit in time. His withdrawal puts a question mark over his career and might bring forward his retirement at age 31.
Former women's world number one Monica Seles has also withdrawn due to continuing problems with her foot. The American, runner-up to Steffi Graf at Wimbledon in 1992, lost in straight sets to Russia's Nadia Petrova in the first round of the French Open three weeks ago.
Argentina's Mariana Diaz-Olivia and Anne Kremer of Luxembourg have also withdrawn and former men's world number one Marcelo Rios, who dislikes grass tournaments, has also pulled out. Bureau Report