Agassi Says 'Yes' to the Stella Artois
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© Getty ImagesAndre Agassi returns to the Stella Artois
for the second time.
Andre Agassi will return to the Stella Artois Championships for the second time after accepting a wild card into the 25th anniversary of the event that kicks off at the Queen's Club in London, next Monday, the 9th of June.
Agassi is the third former Wimbledon champion to take a wild card into the event after Goran Ivanisevic and Richard Krajicek also accepted invitations last month.
He became the oldest World Number One in the history of the ATP Entry rankings a day short of his 33rd birthday when he briefly displaced Lleyton Hewitt after winning the title in Houston in April. He last attended the Stella Artois in 2000 when he reached the third round.
After receiving the news from Agassi, Stella Artois Tournament Director Ian Wight said:
"It's the 25th birthday of the Stella Artois Championships this year and I can't think of a better present for our spectators, viewers and sponsors."
The American is the current leader of the ATP Champions Race, which measures players' performances from the start of the calendar year, and won his eighth Grand Slam title in January with his fourth Australian Open crown.
Agassi continued his impressive form in March when he won the tournament in Miami.
He also made the quarterfinals of the French Open this week and arrives at the Stella Artois as a major obstacle to defending champion Lleyton Hewitt, who is in pursuit of a record fourth straight title.
Also in the field are British pair Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski, American duo Andy Roddick and James Blake, and Thai star Paradorn Srichaphan.