February 9, 2010
Sampras loses to Verdasco in exhibition
SAN JOSE, Calif. --- Pete Sampras showed off that old brilliant serve. The rest of the retired star's game is lacking a bit these days.
Sampras hit nine aces and hung tough against a top player 12 years his junior in the second set of his 6-3, 7-6 (2) loss to Spain's Fernando Verdasco in a 57-minute exhibition match Monday night at the SAP Open.
"It was a pretty rough night," Sampras said. "I never really felt I could get into his service games. Playing defense is harder for me today. That's something I used to do a pretty good job at. It's harder to move."
Sampras received a rousing standing ovation once it was over. He waved and hit three balls into the crowd before telling everybody he "felt a little old" out there.
It was first exhibition match for the 14-time Grand Slam champion since he beat longtime American rival Andre Agassi 3-6, 6-3, 10-8, decided on a match tiebreak at Macau in late October.
The 38-year-old Sampras, who retired in 2003 after a 15-year career, acknowledges he's no longer his sure, sharp self --- and it's tougher to cover the court. His left calf caused him trouble in the first set.
He plays about a half-dozen exhibition events a year. He's using a bigger racket these days to try to keep up with the hard-hitting youngsters on tour now.
Like the overpowering Verdasco. The lefty moved up a spot to No. 11 in this week's ATP rankings.
Sampras had plenty of supporters in the crowd of 5,948. "We love you, Pete!" read one sign.
"Go Pete!" fans yelled.
Sampras nailed back-to-back aces clocked at 127 and 129 mph in the first game of the second set and a big first serve that Verdasco couldn't return to capture that game. Sampras' impressive scoop volley for a winner four games later drew a thumbs-up from Verdasco across the net.
Yet the very next game, Sampras sent a forehand long and shook his head and looked at his racket. When the chair umpire called another forehand by Sampras long on the next point and then corrected it, Sampras held his arms in the air and twirled his racket.
"I felt a little old," Sampras said. "I tried. At times it wasn't all that competitive."
Sampras also acknowledged he'd spoken on the phone with Agassi regarding comments in Agassi's autobiography, "Open."
Sampras had said last month he was surprised and disappointed by Agassi's "shots" at Sampras in the book and would like to meet "man to man" to discuss it.
"He talked and I listened. It was positive, it was fine, it was cordial," Sampras said. "Listen, it's not a big deal. I still like the guy."
Sampras joked around with Verdasco during a tournament VIP kickoff banquet about an hour before they began. The Bryan brothers, twins and doubles partners Bob and Mike, also held a jam session on the stage at HP Pavilion. The Bryans are coming off their fourth Australian Open doubles title.
"Just show some respect," Sampras said to Verdasco with a grin. "I'm going to have to get to the net as much as I can --- none of those long baseline exchanges. I think I can hold my own serving and volleying. Tonight I have no choice but to come in 'til the cows come home. If he returns well and passes well, it could be a quick night."
Verdasco, who is seeded No. 2 in this tournament and making his Bay Area debut, kept Sampras off balance with his big groundstrokes and booming serve.
"He's tough. He's the real deal. He could win a major," Sampras said.
Top-seeded and seventh-ranked Andy Roddick opens play here Wednesday night, and so does Verdasco.
"The match helped me for sure," said Verdasco, who had just arrived in Northern California earlier Monday.
Sampras played an exhibition at San Jose for the third straight year. He won this event in 1996 and '97, and said if those two victories were added to his Grand Slam titles he would be tied with Roger Federer's 16 championships.
He has become an avid poker player --- not to mention talented golfer --- with his buddies in Southern California and they go in at $30,000 during their weekly games.
"I'm down for the year so I had to come up here and break even," Sampras said.
Sampras said he's interested in working for the USTA with young tennis players in the Los Angeles area, but wants to be compensated.
"I'm available for services," he said.
February 11, 2010
Pete Sampras still popular at the SAP Open seven years after retirement
By Ryan Leong
(SAN JOSE, Calif.) --- Pete Sampras, one of the all time tennis greats was in San Jose to kick off the annual SAP Open. Even though Sampras is a legendary player, the game should be more about the current field of players rather than look towards the past. Sampras hasn't played competitively since 2003.
In the past, Sampras has held his own against his opponents but against Spain's Fernando Verdasco, the seventh ranked player in the world, it was clear that Sampras finally looks every bit of 38 years of age.
Sampras, known for excelling with his serve and volley in an era that is now dominated by powerful ground strokes and a baseline game, is still one of the more exciting players to ever set foot on the court.
Off the court was another story. For years, the media was too critical of a player who never stooped to being outlandish or controversial like John McEnroe or Jimmy Conners.
Even the 28-year old Andy Roddick is quite a talker as was Andre Agassi who has stolen the headlines of the tennis world with his recently published autobiography.
Open, a no-holds barred memoir of his trials and tribulations not only playing tennis but his well documented relationship with Brooke Shields and his stunning admission of his use of crystal-meth.
Sampras was even criticized by Agassi in his book for his "dullness" and lack of inspiration as a tennis player.
Pete's reply, "I think it freaked him out how I did my thing. Or certainly it messed with his head that I was able to maintain my focus which to me wasn't a big deal but to him he was amazed by it. The fact that I was a little on the quiet side he couldn't understand that and why can't you understand that. That's what (Bjorn) Borg, that's what Roger (Federer) does and something that's very normal to me."
Sampras also addressed the lack of American men in the top ten. "The fans and the media were a little spoiled in the 90's with myself and Andre. Now we're looking for the next champion, next number one guy and people are looking and it's a little thin. We're pretty good, we're not where we want to be. It might ake five years, ten years or 20 years, it's hard to say. Andy (Roddick) certainly has been the leader the last number of years and he came so close in that (2009) Wimbledon Final and that would have been huge for him."
Sampras now says he still wants to play some exhibitions here and there while he can before he gets too old. He also says he could mentor young players to groom them for the professional ranks but wants to be compensated and also not travel far from his Southern California home.