Wilander, About to Be Married, Won’t Play in the Davis Cup Final

Tennis star Mats Wilander, citing personal reasons, said Wednesday he will not play the Davis Cup final for defending champion Sweden against Australia in Melbourne Dec. 26-28.

Wilander, who is ranked third in the world, is to marry Sonia Mulholland Jan. 3 on the estate Summerveld near Durban, South Africa.

“I think it’s best for me and the team,” said Wilander, who announced his decision before an exhibition match with fellow-Swede Joakim Nystrom in Umea, north Sweden.

“I know I wouldn’t be able to concentrate 100% on the match. I hope most people understand and accept my decision.”

The 22-year-old Wilander returned only last week from a two-month break he decided to take to avoid burnout, reaching the Stockholm Open final in his comeback. He lost, 6-2, 6-1, 6-1, to countryman Stefan Edberg, his worst loss ever in a best-of-five-sets match.

A two-time French and Australian Open champion, Wilander also missed the Davis Cup semifinal against Czechoslovakia in Prague a month ago. But the Swedes, playing with Davis Cup rookies Kent Carlsson and Mikael Pernfors in addition to Edberg, still won 4-1 to secure a fourth straight trip to the final of the prestigious international tennis competition.