Former Wimbledon champion Michael Stich to play doubles at Hamburg tournament next week

Former Wimbledon champion Stich to play doubles

HAMBURG — Former Wimbledon champion Michael Stich will break his 12-year retirement to play doubles at next week’s Hamburg tournament.

The 40-year-old Stich is the director of the financially strapped event that is struggling to survive after losing its Masters Series status on the tour.

The 1991 Wimbledon champion will team with 21-year-old Mischa Zverev, one of Germany’s brightest prospects.

“I’ve been practicing with Mischa in Hamburg for about five years and we got the idea at some point to play doubles at a tournament,” Stich said Friday. “The opportunity has now presented itself and as Hamburg boys we will play before the home fans next week.”

Stich upset three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker to win the title in 1991 and one year later won the doubles with John McEnroe. He ended his career early because of a shoulder injury.