Recently retired Brazilian tennis star Gustavo "Guga" Kuerten Monday accepted the challenge set fourth by American legend John McEnroe.

Guga's response came one day after McEnroe said he wanted to face off against Kuerten after winning the Rio Champions tennis tournament.

"Ever since I was a kid, I always wanted to play against McEnroe. I am going to prepare my best for the match," said Kuerten, the former world number one and three-time winner of the Roland Garros.

But the date for the Kuerten-McEnroe clash is yet to be set.

McEnroe won the Rio Champions by beating fellow American Jim Courier 6-2 and 6-3 in the final. Earlier, he ousted Mikael Pernfors, Jimmy Arias and Brazilian native, Jaime Oncins.

Guga is currently preparing for an exhibition game in June in his home town of Florianopolis, Santa Catarina. He is scheduled to play in an exhibition game against retired Spanish player Sergi Bruguera. Kuerten beat Bruguera in 1997 when he won his first title in Roland Garros.

(Xinhua News Agency March 17, 2009)