Former Wimbeldon champion Richard Krajicek announced his retirement from tennis today after failing to recover from a long-standing elbow injury.
The 1996 champion, renowned for his big-hitting serves, had already pulled out of this year's championships at the famous SW19 London venue.
The Dutchman (31) reached the quarter-final of Wimbledon last year after a 20-month spell out of the game. He is one of several high-profile names who will not be in the draw this year. The men's champion in 2001, Goran Ivanisevic, withdrew last week as did Russian Anna Kournikova and Monica Seles - all from injury.
The seven-times men's champion Pete Sampras will not play either. It will be the first time the American has missed the championship since 1989, but the former world number one has not competed since he won the US Open last year.
The absence of Sampras will fuel rumours of his imminent retirement. Martina Hingis (22), who won the women's title in 1997, announced her retirement from the game earlier in the year.