Two Former Wimbledon Champions Receive Stella Artois Wild Cards
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© Getty ImagesRichard Krajicek won the Wimbledon
Championship in 1996.
Goran Ivanisevic will return to the Stella Artois Championships and Richard Krajicek will make his debut after the two former Wimbledon champions accepted wild card invitations into the event at the Queen's Club, 9-15 June, 2003.
Ivanisevic has been injured for much of the past 12 months and hinted that he may retire after Wimbledon, but despite pulling out of the French Open with a foot injury, he has decided to have another crack at the Stella Artois title in his 11th appearance. The Croatian reached the final in 1997, losing to Mark Philippoussis.
Dutchman Krajicek won Wimbledon in 1996, and will bring his big serve-and-volley game to the Queen's Club for the first time in his 14-year career.
At 31, both players feature less regularly on the tennis circuit these days, but on grass, they are still capable of beating anyone in the world.
Ivanisevic defeated Andy Roddick, Greg Rusedski, Tim Henman and Pat Rafter on his way to the Wimbledon title two years ago, while Krajicek saw off Pete Sampras and Michael Stich en route to the 1996 crown.
They join Lleyton Hewitt, Henman, Rusedski, Roddick, Marat Safin and a host of other big names who will contest the Stella Artois Championships in 2003.
Click here to see a complete list of the players.