rediff.com
rediff.com
Cricket
      HOME | SPORTS | REUTERS | NEWS
June 11, 2001

news
columns
interviews
slide shows
archives
search rediff

Reuters
 Search the Internet
         Tips
 Other sports sites

E-Mail this report to a friend

Print this page

No Carnival at Wimbledon this year

Roland Garros erupted to a Latin beat on Sunday as hundreds of Brazilians paraded around the sprawling grounds in Carnival-style celebrations after Gustavo Kuerten's French Open victory.

But the colourful scenes are unlikely to be repeated at the grass courts of Wimbledon in the foreseeable future, and certainly not this year.

The only parade the Brazilian world number one and three times French Open champion is likely to lead at the All England Club will be the one marking a boycott of Wimbledon by the world's top clay-courters.

Kuerten confirmed after his 6-7 7-5 6-2 6-0 win over Alex Corretja that he would not take part in the season's third Grand Slam, making good his threat to stay away from the All England Club if they did not change their controversial seeding system.

He cloaked his Wimbledon absence in the need for a rest but the Brazilian had long ago made his feelings known.

"I will rest for two weeks," Kuerten said. "I have still some problems with my groin which I must watch, so I am going to rest a lot.

"I have been playing a lot and have not had time to recover."

BOYCOTT SUPPORT

Kuerten had said earlier he would support any boycott of the tournament organised in protest at the seeding.

Wimbledon, threatened with a revolt by top players, scrapped the committee it used to decide seeds for the men's singles in April.

But the tournament organisers have said they will not adhere strictly to ATP rankings when deciding seeds. Wimbledon are to make a statement on Monday which is widely believed to concern seeding.

The Grand Slam committee is expected to announce the seeding system for Wimbledon on Monday and if it does not meet the approval of clay-courters, such as Corretja and fellow Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero, more players are likely to join Kuerten on the sidelines.

"I will make my decision after they make theirs," said Corretja, who boycotted last year's Wimbledon along with fellow Spaniard Albert Costa. "I would like to see how they manage everything this year."

Kuerten's love affair with Paris and the French Open is easy to understand and in sharp contrast to the increasingly tense relationship between Wimbledon and the sport's most prominent players.

Certainly the Brazilian will not be found wearing any shirts with "I love Wimbledon" scribbled on them to match the t-shirt he wore on Sunday bearing the message "I love Roland Garros".

Back to top
(c) Copyright 2000 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
Mail Sports Editor

NEWS | MONEY | SPORTS | MOVIES | CHAT | CRICKET | SEARCH | RAIL/AIR | NEWSLINKS
ASTROLOGY | BROADBAND | CONTESTS | E-CARDS | ROMANCE | WOMEN | WEDDING
SHOPPING | BOOKS | MUSIC | HOMEPAGES | FREE EMAIL| MESSENGER | FEEDBACK