Stich loses on competitive return

Eurosport - Tue, 21 Jul 23:24:00 2009

Former Wimbledon champion Michael Stich's return to competitive action 12 years after his retirement lasted only 62 minutes, losing in the first round of the doubles at the German Open in Hamburg.

TENNIS Michael Stich Germany - 0

Stich, 40, joined up with 21-year-old Mischa Zverev but the German duo were beaten 6-4 6-2 by the Swedish-Australian pair of Simon Aspelin and Paul Hanley, much to the disappointment of the watching 4,000 fans.

Stich, who won Wimbledon in 1991 and was also a French Open and US Open finalist, won a total 18 career titles and reached a career-high ranking of number two before retiring in 1997.

As tournament director of the German Open, which lost its Masters status this year and was moved to the unattractive - for clay courts - July date, Stich gave himself and Zverev a wildcard to add some spice to the competition and raise its profile.

Stich is not the only retired player to make a brief doubles comeback.

Former Wimbledon champion John McEnroe, partnered by Swede Jonas Bjorkman, won the San Jose doubles tournament in 2006 aged 47, 14 years after his last title.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 14 of 14

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  1. #12 : this tour already exists ! go and check on the­ atptour website, there's a link. It's a very­ interesting tour with guys like McEnroe, Bruguera,­ Muster, Rios, Pioline, Leconte and many others­ -including Sampras sometimes- having a go at each other­ in sthg like a 12 event-tour. And McEnroe takes it very­ serioulsy. He recently slammed Rios for being too young­ to participate...

    From teapsky, on Wed 22 Jul 6:30PM

  2. Well, he played with Zverev who's not the best­ partner for doubles one can have and he played against­ very very good opponents so there's nothing here to­ be ashamed of. I think it is great that former great­ players come back to play some double-events. They­ don't have the pretention to make a serious come­ back, just give nostalgic fans and kids who were too­ young to watch them play an occasion to see they're­ still talented ! I would love to see more of that. If I­ could have a glimpse of McEnroe playing or those kind­ of players, I'd be delighted. That's it. Cheers­ !

    From teapsky, on Wed 22 Jul 6:26PM

  3. Stich was a great gritty player in his prime-time. But,­ he and many others of his batch are still capable of­ playing some excellent, entertaining matches. It might­ be a good idea to start a Senior Circuit in which­ physically fit players in the age bracket of 35+ years­ could participate.

    From Emmveeyem, on Wed 22 Jul 5:52PM

  4. Try mixd-doubles next. Then girls' doubles.

    From Silver N, on Wed 22 Jul 5:44PM

  5. Oh come on please we all knew this would happen hang­ your rackets back up Stich.

    From AJ, on Wed 22 Jul 2:59PM

  6. no surprised really

    From janice m, on Wed 22 Jul 12:29PM

  7. are we surprised not really

    From r.john15, on Wed 22 Jul 9:08AM

  8. I mean to say stich or WHATEVER!

    From Jerardo, on Wed 22 Jul 8:20AM

  9. I mean stich, oh sorry

    From Jerardo, on Wed 22 Jul 8:16AM

  10. Stitch, Stitch, Stitch!

    From Jerardo, on Wed 22 Jul 8:15AM

  11. Good lad

    From Jerardo, on Wed 22 Jul 8:14AM

  12. He is­ good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Jerardo, on Wed 22 Jul 8:13AM

  13. Surely you mean stich to tournament director next year­ ?

    From Jex, on Wed 22 Jul 12:43AM

  14. Maybe stick to tournament director next year ?

    From lopezmaxi92, on Wed 22 Jul 12:14AM
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