Arthurs not ready for the wheelchair just yet

LONDON, June 28 (Reuters) They say tennis is a young person's game these days with anybody approaching 30 being cruelly labelled a veteran.

All the more surprising then that on Saturday a 36-year-old will play a 35-year-old in the third round of this year's men's singles at Wimbledon.

''I don't think we're allowed to play before Monday because the over 35s doesn't start until next week,'' big-serving Australian Wayne Arthurs joked as he looked ahead to his meeting with old rival Jonas Bjorkman.

Arthurs, who plans to end his long career after Wimbledon, followed up a remarkable victory over Thiemo De Bakker on Tuesday with a straightforward straight sets defeat of 11th seed Tommy Robredo today.

''I came off the court, and there's a couple of Aussie guys in the locker room who manage the locker. I was standing out the front here and they had a wheelchair with my name on the back.

''I didn't get in it but I might another couple of matches down the line.'' Arthurs qualified for the main draw only after a five-set qualifying victory over Christophe Rochus, whereas the evergreen Bjorkman is seeded 19th having gone all the way to the semi-final last year.

They may have mellowed with age and the legs might take a bit more time to recover but both players will be going at it hammer and tongs when they meet.

''We've had a few run ins in the past,'' said Arthurs of their six career meetings. ''He hit me pretty hard in the nether regions in Davis Cup probably three or four years ago and a few on court incidents but off the court we're fine.'' Bjorkman said he remembered the Davis Cup incident, but hoped Arthurs would not be looking for revenge.

''It was a normal forehand volley, so he didn't have time to react and he got it an uncomfortable place,'' Bjorkman said after beating Wang Yeu-Tzuoo in four sets on Thursday.

''I don't know, hopefully he's not going to hit me there. I think we both need to keep those alive for a little bit more.'' Bjorkman, who hopes to play in the Olympics next year, said competing with and beating players nearly half his age was an incentive to keep going.

''We've got a different style, and when we play our best tennis, it's still possible to beat these guys.'' Reuters DH VP0217