The Brazilian Tennis Confederation (CBT) announced Thursday that three-time Roland Garros champion Gustavo Kuerten will not participate in the XV Pan American Games, to be held in Rio de Janeiro in July.

The entity released the rosters of Brazil's men's and women's teams for the competition. Guga, as the player is popular known, is not among the three men players drafted.

Kuerten had previously released a press statement saying that he would not play the Games, but CBT promptly denied the information. At the time, he stressed that the decision was taken with the consent of the Brazilian team's head coach Francisco Costa.

After the Confederation bounced back, the coach said that Guga is not ready yet to return to courts in a Pan Am, but he added that he expects the former champion to join the squad for the Davis Cup, against Austria.

The coaching committee, comprised of Costa, Joao Zwetsch and Thomaz Koch, drafted players Flavio Saretta, Thiago Alves and Marcos Daniel.

According to Costa, Alves and Daniel have been presenting the best recent performances among Brazilian tennis players, as the former occupies a higher position in the ATP (Association of Tennis Players) ranking, and the latter led the local ranking in 2006.

Saretta was chosen to fill up the roster due to his being experienced in important international competitions.

The women's team for the Pan Am Games will rely on Jenifer Widjaja, Teliana Pereira and Joana Cortez.

Source: Xinhua