Tennis-Kuerten granted wildcard for Monte Carlo Masters

PARIS, March 19 (Reuters) - Former world number one Gustavo Kuerten has been granted a wildcard for next month's Monte Carlo Masters, organisers said on Wednesday.

"The tournament's organising committee has decided to pay tribute to Gustavo Kuerten by granting him the first wildcard," organisers said in a statement referring to the popular Brazilian who will be retiring after the French Open.

Kuerten will be hoping to fine-tune his game before playing his final tournament at Roland Garros, where he triumphed in 1997, 2000 and 2001.

He needed an invite to compete in Monte Carlo as he no longer has an ATP ranking since he has only played in one event over the past year.

The 31-year-old Kuerten, whose career has been plagued by a hip injury, won the Monte Carlo Masters in 1999 and 2001. (Reporting by Julien Pretot, editing by Pritha Sarkar)