MUNICH. Dec 11 : The six million-dollar Grand Slam Tennis Cup lost Its three top crowd-pullers on

the opening day on Tuesday, reports Reuter.

Boris Becker failed to recover from a mystery virus, while Americans Jimmy Connors and Jim Courier went under in first round action.

Alter top seed Becker announced hls withdrawal because of fever symptoms. Connors was beaten 0-6, 6-4. 6-4 by Jakob Holasek.

Then Courier, the second seed, went down 6-4. 6-2 to compatriot Michel Chang in another first round encounter.

With the departure of Becket, the Australian Open champion, and Courier. the French Open winner, the rich est tournament in tennis now has only one Grand Slam winner remaining — Wimbledon title holder Michael Stich.

Organisers will be praying the German can survive his first match against Goran Prpic on Wednesday

Swedish world number one Stefan Edberg, who tri umphed at the US Open this year, was forced to pull out last week because of a persistent

knee Injury.

The definite absence of world number one Stefan Edberg last year’s winner Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi and the likely withdrawal of Boris Becker, leaves no clear favourite and an embarrassing lack of crowd- drawing attractions.

Edberg ruled himself out of the tournament because of the tendinitis in his left knee which has sidelined him for more than a month.

The players qualify for the Munich event, which pays out a massive two million dollars to the winner, after their performances at the four Grand Slams during the year.

Becker had less control over his sporting demise.

The 24-year-o.ld world number three had failed to recover from the fever symptoms which forced him to pull out of Sunday's final of the European Community Championships In Antwerp from the fever symptoms which forced him to pull out of Sunday's final of the European Community Championships tn Antwerp.

Hls manger Ion Tlrtac said : "Boris t* feeling weak and hl* head Is spinning like it was In Antwerp."

The German was replaced by Australian Todd Woodbridge who meets American Aaron Krickstein on Wednesday.

Becker's withdrawal from the event on his home soil marked the end to a year which has been plagued with Injuries and illness at Impor tant times.

That leaves Ivan Lendl. Jim Courier and Michael Chang a* the main favourile*. Jimmy Connors, who now restrict* his tournaments to exhibitions and the Grand Slam events, has got a place after reaching the U S Open semis.

Becker, who last year called the cash enticement* "obscene," has since changed hls mind and now secs the cup as an opportunity for Germany

German hero Becker could mlM the chance for the two million dollar first prize because of the flu which forced him to mis* the European Community Open final on ’“Itr only relief for the Grand Slam Cup organiser* Is that Agassi is the only top 10-Ctyer keeping up with boycott cause of the high prize money on offer

Sampras did not gel enough qualifying point* from the Grand Slam event*