Muster celebrates Tour comeback at 43

By ERIC WILLEMSEN
Associated Press Writer
Associated Press Sports

VIENNA (AP) -Former top-ranked Thomas Muster will celebrate his return to the ATP Tour at the age of 43 at the Bank Austria Trophy on Austria's National Holiday.

Muster will play fellow Austrian Andreas Haider-Maurer on Tuesday in his first match back on the tour since losing in the first round of 1999 French Open.

Muster was handed a wild card and was scheduled to play fifth-seeded Ernests Gulbis, but organizers said Monday that the 24th-ranked Latvian had withdrawn for "personal reasons" and will be replaced by lucky loser Haider-Maurer.

"For me, every opponent would have been a huge challenge," Muster said before being told of Gulbis's withdrawal. "I have one advantage - I won't freeze when I enter the Stadthalle. It's a usual feeling to me."

Muster first played in the Vienna event 26 years ago, reaching the final three times but failing to win the tournament.

The 157th-ranked Haider-Maurer pulled out of qualification with a thigh injury earlier Monday but expected to be healthy again for Tuesday's match.

"I will only go on court when I am 100 percent fit," the 23-year old Haider-Maurer said. "On paper, Thomas Muster is one of the easiest draws in the first round but with his experience and the spectators getting behind him, he will play his best tennis."

Muster became Austria's most successful tennis player ever by winning 44 titles, most notably the French Open in 1995, and holding the No. 1 spot for six weeks the next year.

By then, Muster had already staged a remarkable comeback to professional tennis.

His career was almost ruined when he severely damaged his left knee when his car was hit by a drunk driver before the final of the 1989 Key Biscayne tournament. He was back on tour less than six months later.

Muster never formally retired from professional tennis but said in 1999 he would "go on a holiday."

Muster has since been playing on the Champions Tour but suddenly announced his comeback to competitive tennis in June.

"(I'm) getting better every day, feeling the ball well, playing great shots, that still gives me a kick," said Muster, who managed just one win in seven matches on the second-tier Challenger circuit this season.

"I won't set my goals too high but will just play my best tennis and we'll see where it brings me," he said. "Many players ask me if I want to train with them. That's the biggest reward I could possibly get."

Muster returns to the main tour at 43, the same age as Jimmy Connors when he retired in 1996.

Manager Ronnie Leitgeb, who coached the Austrian in his heyday, is skeptical about his former pupil's comeback.

"I am really worrying that he might overdo it physically," Leitgeb said. "He is at an age now with physiological borders, which you can't and shouldn't pass."

Muster, who earned career prize money of more than $12.2 million, denied that his return to top-level tennis is a one-off and said he aims to play as many as 25 tournaments in 2011.

"Next season will be a mix of Challenger events and some of these (like Vienna)," Muster said.

Muster said he has been working hard on coordination and physical fitness but admitted he is lacking match practice.

"It's like completing a puzzle," he said. "There still are several pieces which have to fit in."