Wimbledon Champions Meet on Grass, At Last, At The Stella Artois
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© Getty ImagesStich: 1993 Champion will return to
Queen's to face Goran Ivanisevic.
Six of the world’s top ten players are among those hoping to contest the singles final at the 2006 Stella Artois Championships, but already assured of featuring on the final day of the tournament are former Wimbledon champions Goran Ivanisevic and Michael Stich.
The 1991 Wimbledon champion Stich and 2001 winner Ivanisevic will face each other for the first time on grass when they meet in a special challenge match following the Stella Artois singles and doubles finals on Sunday 18th June.
Stich burst onto the scene in 1991, beating Stefan Edberg in the Wimbledon semifinals and Boris Becker in the final. His languid but explosive serve, glorious single-handed backhand and solid volleys also took him to the finals of the French and US Opens and a doubles gold medal in the Barcelona Olympics.
Ivanisevic enjoyed an even more spectacular triumph at the All England Club. After 11 years of trying and three final appearances, his obsessive pursuit of a Grand Slam title finally paid off when he won an incredible final against Pat Rafter five years ago.
Both Ivanisevic and Stich were regular visitors to the Stella Artois during their careers. Stich won the title in 1993, beating Wayne Ferreira in the final, while Ivanisevic was a runner-up to Mark Philippoussis in 1997.
In their careers they played each other seven times, with Stich leading 5-2, including victory in all five of their most recent encounters. They have never previously met on grass.
The 2006 Stella Artois Championships will boast its strongest ever field, with World No.2 Rafael Nadal making his first appearance. He will be joined by fellow top-ten players Ivan Ljubicic, Andy Roddick, James Blake, Nikolay Davydenko, Fernando Gonzalez and Lleyton Hewitt as well as former World No.1 Andre Agassi and British trio Andy Murray, Greg Rusedski and Tim Henman.