[CIAFreeAgent]

VIENNA (AP) -- Austrian tennis great and former No. 1 Thomas Muster announced his comeback to the ATP circuit at age 42 -- 11 years after playing his last match on the professional tour.

The 1995 French Open champion said on Wednesday he's accepted a wild card into the ATP challenger event Nord/LB Open starting on June 28 in Braunschweig, Germany.

He said he planned to appear in more events on the second-tier circuit.

Clay-court specialist Muster, who won 44 ATP Tour titles, said he "still loves competitive tennis ... I won't set my goals too high but will just play my best tennis and we'll see where it brings me."

Muster said he "wants to feel that tournament atmosphere again. With hard work and the right ambition, a lot is possible."

Muster played his final match as a pro at the 1999 French Open, where he lost in the first round.

"I never formally retired, as I said after that match I would go on a holiday," Muster said. "So now I am just returning from my holiday."

Muster has played on the ATP's Seniors Tour since 2003, and captained the Austria Davis Cup team from 2004-06.

The Nord/LB Open, a clay-court event offering euro106,500 ($131,000) in prizemoney, confirmed it awarded Muster a wild card.

The Austrian, who earned career prizemoney of more than $12.2 million, led the ATP rankings for six weeks in early 1996.

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.

He went on to become the only Austrian to win a Grand Slam title by beating Michael Chang of the United States 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 in the 1995 final at Roland Garros.

Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[KatoabamyHant]

So, my immediate reaction was, "You gotta be kidding me!"

But by the end of the piece, I was saying, "Well, good for him."

[ChuttyAmult]

I always liked him. One of my lefties.

[untostaronaf]

I liked Muster. Although 42?

My favorite part of the article is the last sentence:

Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[KatoabamyHant]

Didn't Muster and Tim Henman have a great exchange, I think at the French Open, where Muster chased Tim around the court and the crowd got a huge kick out of it, and it was just a great big bunch of big fun?

[CIAFreeAgent]

I liked Muster. Although 42?

My favorite part of the article is the last sentence:

Oops. I hope I don't get sued!

[ChuttyAmult]

Didn't Muster and Tim Henman have a great exchange, I think at the French Open, where Muster chased Tim around the court and the crowd got a huge kick out of it, and it was just a great big bunch of big fun?

US Open, I believe.

Otherwise, Muster was kinda scary to face. He gave the best death stares.

[vintsqyuid]

See Thomas is trying to be like Kimiko on the WTA side.

[Unjucky]

WOW!!!!! That's nifty.

I hope he has a Kimiko Date-Krumm-esque comeback.

[whatisthebluepill]

That has failure written all over it

[Unjucky]

That has failure written all over it

DEBBIE DOWNER!!!!!!

(Yeah, probably)

[objennasweene]

mid-life crisis, much?

[untostaronaf]

Muster vs Sampras

[Knqzjbmf]

Grunt! Groan...

[MilenaMKB]

The only things I remember about him are his grunts and his scissor kick.

It's like Kimiko Date has opened the floodgates!

[whatisthebluepill]

DEBBIE DOWNER!!!!!!

(Yeah, probably)

Just realist

[Knqzjbmf]

It's like Kimiko Date has opened the floodgates!

Ghehehehehe... Still, I think Kimiko knew exactly what she was getting into and after a rough start to her comeback, she's probably proven herself right and a ton of people wrong. I seriously doubt that a lot of retirees from Kimiko's first period as a pro could find this level of dedication and determination again. Muster, as far as that is concerned, is one of a select few I could actually see winning a couple of matches. I remember him talking about sitting on his porch in Australia, sipping away at bottles of VB, feeling rather chubby and (more or less) suddenly wanting to get fit and back on court again (which eventually saw him join the seniors tour). He wants something and he goes for it - all out. As much as I don't care for him as a tennis personality, I can really appreciate that side of him.

In short: enjoy your return to action, Thomas. We'll be watching the scoreboard. Just don't think you can win a match at Wimbledon.

[kilibry]

Should be interesting, though. I'm enjoying this trend of old faves coming back.

[aspinswramymn]

The only things I remember about him are his grunts and his scissor kick.

THIS I think is more a reference to Petr Korda, no?

[untostaronaf]

THIS I think is more a reference to Petr Korda, no?

Korda! Thank you. I couldn't think of his name.

Isn't it Peter "I was busted for using steroids so I retired" Korda?