I'm going to miss him so much. 
Three-time champ Guga making French Open farewell
SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) -- Three-time French Open champion Gustavo "Guga" Kuerten will retire from professional tennis after playing at Roland Garros this year.
Kuerten will enter only six tournaments in 2008 before ending his 14-year career, the Brazilian said in a news conference on Tuesday.
"I reached my limit because of my physical condition," Kuerten said. "I wanted to keep playing, participating in the important tournaments. I think I still could play for two or three years if it weren't for the physical part."
A chronic hip injury that needed operations in 2002 and 2004 restricted the lanky Kuerten to only 26 ATP-level matches since late 2004.
Brazil's only Grand Slam singles winner intends on playing in next month's Brasil Open, three Masters Series tournaments and a challenger before the French Open, which starts on May 25.
He said he will also try to play in his third Olympics.
"I just want to enjoy this year," he said. "Enjoy each of these final tournaments I'll play."
The 31-year-old began his pro career in 1995, and earned his greatest success on the red clay at Roland Garros, where he was champion in 1997, 2000 and 2001.
"It always was my favorite tournament," he said.
He reached No. 1 in 2000 and became the first South American in ATP rankings history to finish the year on top. His limited play has dropped him to 679th.
Along with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Kuerten is the only active player with three or more Grand Slam titles.
Among the best in the world in the late 1990s and early 2000s, he won 20 of the 29 singles finals he played. The last was in February 2004 on home ground at Costa do Sauipe.
Last year, Kuerten said for the first time that he would retire from the tour if he failed to be competitive in 2008.
Kuerten has a 358-191 career singles record, with 181 of those wins on clay.
In recent years he was a reserve and a doubles player for Brazil in Davis Cup, a competition in which he has a 34-18 singles record.
Kuerten will enter only six tournaments in 2008 before ending his 14-year career, the Brazilian said in a news conference on Tuesday.
"I reached my limit because of my physical condition," Kuerten said. "I wanted to keep playing, participating in the important tournaments. I think I still could play for two or three years if it weren't for the physical part."
A chronic hip injury that needed operations in 2002 and 2004 restricted the lanky Kuerten to only 26 ATP-level matches since late 2004.
Brazil's only Grand Slam singles winner intends on playing in next month's Brasil Open, three Masters Series tournaments and a challenger before the French Open, which starts on May 25.
He said he will also try to play in his third Olympics.
"I just want to enjoy this year," he said. "Enjoy each of these final tournaments I'll play."
The 31-year-old began his pro career in 1995, and earned his greatest success on the red clay at Roland Garros, where he was champion in 1997, 2000 and 2001.
"It always was my favorite tournament," he said.
He reached No. 1 in 2000 and became the first South American in ATP rankings history to finish the year on top. His limited play has dropped him to 679th.
Along with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Kuerten is the only active player with three or more Grand Slam titles.
Among the best in the world in the late 1990s and early 2000s, he won 20 of the 29 singles finals he played. The last was in February 2004 on home ground at Costa do Sauipe.
Last year, Kuerten said for the first time that he would retire from the tour if he failed to be competitive in 2008.
Kuerten has a 358-191 career singles record, with 181 of those wins on clay.
In recent years he was a reserve and a doubles player for Brazil in Davis Cup, a competition in which he has a 34-18 singles record.
1 - 20 of 57 Posts
will he manage to get a WC for all 3 of them?Brazil's only Grand Slam singles winner intends on playing in next month's Brasil Open, three Masters Series tournaments and a challenger before the French Open, which starts on May 25.
or does he have any PR?
i´m guessing WCswill he manage to get a WC for all 3 of them?
or does he have any PR?
he even said so
but i guess AP didnt quote him on that
just so you know
the AMS events are:
miami
monte carlo
rome or hamburg
the AMS events are:
miami
monte carlo
rome or hamburg
I don't think he has any PR with the tournaments he played last year but hopefully, he will get WC to those master series.will he manage to get a WC for all 3 of them?
or does he have any PR?
He won't go to Indian Wellsjust so you know
the AMS events are:
miami
monte carlo
rome or hamburg
guga was and still is my favorite player, so i hope he manages to play all those tournaments and goes out on a high note
I have never particularly been a Guga fan, but have to admit that he bought something special to his matches - especially at Roland Garros. It will be sad, and yet also somewhat of a privelage, to be there in May and witness his final match there, and I wish him luck in his future.
I dont think organizers would deny someone like Guga the WC despite this meaning 1 WC less for their local playersI don't think he has any PR with the tournaments he played last year but hopefully, he will get WC to those master series.
If they deny Guga a WC to ANY of these events, it would be complete and utter disrespect for one of the classiest champions of the last 20 years.will he manage to get a WC for all 3 of them?
or does he have any PR?
Guga has been one of my favourite players but it's right decision. Better to finish pro-career than losing day after day to Montanes and Hernandez on clay :shrug:
It's relieving that he finally took the decision, even though it's still sad that tennis is leaving him and not the opposite.
A farewell at Phlippe Chatrier court was all I was hoping for.
A farewell at Phlippe Chatrier court was all I was hoping for.
and losing to a big name....
I'll misss him. The guy will be probably the last of dark-horse slam champions.
:awww:
Hopefully I'll get to see his last match at RG.
Hopefully I'll get to see his last match at RG.
I disagree. Giving him a WC is pretty much throwing one away. At least the local players that could benefit from a WC actually need the money and such. Guga doesn't.If they deny Guga a WC to ANY of these events, it would be complete and utter disrespect for one of the classiest champions of the last 20 years.
Sure, he was a great champion and deserves some respect, but he's also lingered on far longer than he should have. It would be different if he could actually win a match at that level, but he can't.
1 - 20 of 57 Posts
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