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Mass exodus Kuerten officially out of Wimbledon; Rios, Popp follow
Updated: Monday June 18, 2001 4:21 PM LONDON (AP) -- As expected, the world's top-ranked male player will not be at Wimbledon. French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten officially pulled out of Wimbledon on Friday, citing an injury. The Brazilian, who won his third French Open title Sunday, had already announced that he planned to skip Wimbledon. He said he had a sore groin and needed a rest. But Kuerten has also 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. American Brie Rippner, who last year reached the third round of Wimbledon, also withdrew with injury. Former top ranked player Marcelo Rios of Chile also won't be competing but that it no surprise. Rios has missed the last two Wimbledons and once famously said "grass is for cows." Already out with injuries are former French Open champion Mary Pierce, 1996 Wimbledon winner Richard Krajicek and Mark Philippoussis. Russian star Anna Kournikova is also 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.
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