Muster to retire again at 44

Vienna - Thomas Muster has announced he will retire from tennis following next month's Erste Bank Open tournament in his native Austria.

The former top-ranked Muster, who turns 44 early next month, made his comeback to professional tennis last year after 11 years away.

He says "you should not drag it along forever. I wanted to relive competitive tennis again and I've really enjoyed it."

Muster is ranked 847th after winning two matches on the lower-tier Challenger tour. He has lost both his main-draw matches at ATP level.

Tournament director Herwig Straka confirms that Muster will be awarded a wild card for the Erste Bank Open, beginning on October 22.

Muster became the only Austrian to win a Grand Slam event when he lifted the French Open trophy in 1995.