February 15, 2009
Sampras In Awe Of 50-Year-Old McEnroe, But Beats Him To Win In Boston
BOSTON --- Pete Sampras defeated John McEnroe 7-6 (10), 6-4 Sunday to win the singles title at the $150,000 Champions Cup Boston, the opening event on the 2009 Outback Champions Series, the global tennis circuit for champion tennis players age 30 and over. McEnroe, playing on the eve of his 50th birthday, led 3-0 in the first set and held four set points in the first-set tie-breaker, but was unable to stay on top of the 37-year-old Sampras.
Sampras had nothing but praise for the nearly half-century-old McEnroe, who has played high-quality competitive tennis for the last 17 years since he retired from full-time duty on the ATP Tour after the 1992 season.
"John McEnroe turns 50 tomorrow --- it's incredible how well this guy still plays. I'm in awe of it actually," said Sampras following Sunday's final. "At 50, it's amazing to move that well. It's pretty incredible. He's been consistently playing since he retired. He's still in great shape, his hands, his experience. He knows where to go on the court. He doesn't move quite as well, but it's pretty remarkable at 50 he plays this well."
McEnroe defeated Sampras at the 2008 Champions Cup Boston en route to the title, his first career title on the Outback Champions Series, the four-year-old U.S.-based champions' circuit. McEnroe also won the title in Surprise, Ariz., last year and finished the 2008 season ranked No. 2 on the Stanford Champions Rankings that determine the year-end champion on the Outback Champions Series.
"I gave it everything I had," said McEnroe of the final with Sampras. "This guy (Sampras) knows a little about winning when the going gets tough. That's why he won 14 Grand Slams which is unbelievable."
Sampras earned $60,000 for the tournament title --- his fourth career Outback Champions Series title. McEnroe earned a runner-up check for $40,000.
"It was a good match," said Sampras. "I got off to a slow start getting broken. He was playing well, mixing up with his serve. I got back to even in the first, made it to the tiebreaker. My serve wasn't great. I had a couple of double faults, but I got through that. It was good tennis and the crowd enjoyed it. I give him a lot of credit. He played great against me. He was hard to put away today."
McEnroe said he played better with each match during the weekend. He said his Friday night quarterfinal win over Jimmy Arias was the match that featured the most rust and cobwebs from the long layoff since his last Outback Champions Series event in early November.
"I figured I'd get better this weekend since I haven't played in three months," said McEnroe, who won his first of seven major singles titles 30 years ago at the 1979 U.S. Open. "I felt by far my best match was today. Even though I lost I felt like I played my best match today. I felt like I was on the ball today. His serve was difficult to read. I had a break and anytime you have a break on a reasonably quick court, you can make the argument that you should win the set."
Todd Martin earned third-place honors at the event when fellow losing semifinalist Jim Courier was unable to play in Sunday's third-place match due to an injured back suffered in his Saturday loss to McEnroe. Martin did defeat Mats Wilander 8-6 in an exhibition match Sunday that preceded the Sampras-McEnroe final.
Last year, McEnroe won his first career Outback Champions Series title in Boston when he defeated Aaron Krickstein in the championship match. En route to his victory last year, McEnroe upset Sampras 2-6, 7-5, 10-4 (Champions Tie-Break) in round-robin play when the tournament featured a different format. Sampras won the Champions Cup Boston title in 2007, defeating McEnroe 6-3, 6-4 in round-robin play en route to the title.
Founded in 2005, the Outback Champions Series features some of the biggest names in tennis over the last 25 years, including Sampras, McEnroe, Courier and others. To be eligible to compete on the Outback Champions Series, players must have reached at least a major singles final, been ranked in the top five in the world or played singles on a championship Davis Cup team. The Outback Champions Series features eight events on its 2009 schedule with each event featuring $150,000 in prize money as well as Champions Series ranking points that will determine the year-end Stanford Champions Rankings No. 1. The year-end champion will receive a $100,000 bonus courtesy of Stanford Financial Group, the official rankings sponsor of the Outback Champions Series.
Champions Cup Boston is sponsored by Outback Steakhouse, Stanford Financial Group, Staples, ASG, Providea, Talon Air, Coca-Cola, Taj Hotel, NESN and Greater Media.
InsideOut Sports + Entertainment is a New York City-based independent producer of proprietary events and promotions founded in 2004 by former world No. 1 and Hall of Fame tennis player Jim Courier and former SFX and Clear Channel executive Jon Venison. In 2005, InsideOut launched its signature property, the Outback Champions Series, a collection of tennis events featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30. In addition, InsideOut produces many other successful events including "Legendary Night" exhibitions, charity events and tennis fantasy camps such as the annual "Ultimate Fantasy Camp". Through 2008, InsideOut Sports + Entertainment events have raised over $4 million for charity. For more information, please log on to www.InsideOutSE.com or www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com.
ý 2007 InsideOut Sports & Entertainment
February 16, 2009
Pete Sampras still going
By Rich Thompson
Pete Sampras had nearly everything he needed in retirement.
Sampras earned a fortune that will long outlive him, built a staggering legacy with 14 individual Grand Slam titles, and finished a record six consecutive years as the world's No. 1.
The only thing Sampras lacked in retirement was tennis.
Sampras satisfied that itch by joining the Outback Champions Series and yesterday he dethroned the legendary John McEnroe to capture the Champions Cup Boston title in straight sets at Agganis Arena.
"Tennis keeps me going, it keeps me sharp and keeps me at home focused on something to prepare for," said Sampras.
"I didn't pick up a racquet for three years after I retired and I sort of let my body get away. I put on some weight and that didn't sit well with me. Just playing for three or four months is good for me. I don't want to do anything more than that because it's still fun and enjoyable."
Sampras, who grew up watching McEnroe during his fantastic run in the late 1970s and early '80s, knows a match between the two in their prime years would have made for compelling theater.
"I really looked up to John, he was my first memory in tennis," Sampras said. "John was a talented player and when you look at the history of the game, he might just be the most unique player because of his style of play and stroke production."
"It was different but effective, and that serve even to this day is hard to pick up."
And on the eve of his 50th birthday, McEnroe gave the seven-time Wimbledon champion a serious run for his money.
McEnroe beat Sampras to win this event last year and he came within a few missed serves of repeating.
Sampras, for one, was impressed.
"He's still in great shape, he has those hands and he's smart and he's experienced and he knows which way to go," Sampras said.
The opening segment was a marathon session that saw Sampras dig out from early deficits in both the set and tiebreaker to take a 1-0 lead. McEnroe won the first three games with an effective serve-and-volley game that kept Sampras on his heels.
After falling behind 4-1, Sampras won three straight games to tie the set, 4-4.
The two players held service in the next four games to send the set into a 10-point tiebreaker. McEnroe again took a 4-1 lead before Sampras worked his way back. He eventually took the tiebreaker, 12-10.
Warmed up at last, Sampras' legendary power game was in full swing during the second set, continually keeping McEnroe on the defensive.
Both men held service in the first two games, but Sampras began to establish his control of the match with a love service game that gave him a 2-1 lead.
McEnroe held serve to tie the set, 2-2, but he was starting to dig deep just to keep pace. Sampras then put the brilliant lefty away over the next two games, serving three aces to take a 3-2 lead and then breaking McEnroe after a lengthy battle in the sixth game.
That break gave Sampras enough breathing room to eventually take the title, 7-6, 6-4, proving that not even time away can keep him from remaining a winner.