US TENNIS
April 1995
Meet our new PIaying Editor
By Peter Francesconi, Managing Editor

This month, we chose for our cover one of our own team members. Pete Sampms, who's held the No. 1 world ranking for the past year and a half, joined us recently as Playing Editor. He'll contribute exclusive instruction stories to TENNIS in 1995, and his first one, ''How to Hit on the Run," appears on page 32. Future installments will cover both stroking and Sampras' overall approach to continuing improvement.

"Pete has the perfect blend of classic orthodoxy and the modern power method," says Senior Instruction Editor Alex McNab, who organized the story and photo sessions with the champion. ''For our readers, that means that regardless of your style of play, you'll find something in his instruction for your game."

As you'll see, Sampras' articles will use big photos to easily illustrate his points, along with his own comments about his game. ''One of the best ways to learn is to watch expert players who have smooth strokes," says Alex. "Pete's a perfect model for that type of learning. His instruction will be as much show as tell."

Since Sampras is such an instinctive, natural player, his articles will be somewhat less mechanical and technical than you'd expect from our other instructors. Says Alex: ''His advice has a different flavor to it than the analysis offered by our corps of teaching pros. But you'll find many useful pointers."

As we did when Sampras' coach and TENNIS Instruction Editor, Tim Gullikson, analyzed the champion's serve last year, Alex and Staff Photographer Dom Furore went to the Saddlebrook Resort in Florida for the photo session. ''I've worked with almost all the expert coaches and players who've written for TENNIS over the years," says Alex. "Pete's as cooperative, conscientious and comfortable to work with as any of them."

Instruction by Pete Sampras isn't the only new thing you'll find in this issue. We've revamped our Passing Shots section (page 17) to allow us to cover a wider variety of subjects more completely. Also, we've started a regular department, Well-Equipped Player (page 79), to keep you up to date on the latest, most interesting products to enhance your tennis.

But, of course, adding the top player to our team is a big deal. That's why we put him on our cover. We think it's a classic.