April 29, 2007
FIRST PERSON
Racket Man
By Doug Most
(Photo by Joe Schmelzer)
Tennis great Pete Sampras is back at 35 and playing in the Outback Champions Series, which comes to Boston Wednesday.
How has retirement been?
The first couple years were a lot of fun. I didn't have to worry about playing or training. Had a little baby. After three or four years, I got a little restless --- you can only golf so much.
Were you at least playing tennis occasionally, or was your racket literally collecting dust?
It was collecting dust in the basement. I didn't pick up a racket. Had no interest. It's tiring. Now I have more of a reason: I'm competing.
Did you miss competing? How did your life change?
I didn't do anything for two years. I ate what I wanted to eat. Then I saw a picture of myself. What happened? My face --- I've got two chins. I used to be an athlete. This has got to stop. Now I'm probably close to my playing weight again.
Roger Federer is dominating men's tennis now the way you did in your prime.
I'm a fan of his temperament. Not brash. When I watch him play, I see what I could do. That's the competitor in me. Who would be better in our primes? I think our games are quite different, [but] our movement's similar.
How would you do against him today?
I hit with him three weeks ago, held my own. I can still hold serve pretty handily. That's half the battle of tennis.
But is that good enough for you? What about the rest of the players on this over-30 tour? Can you be happy just competing again, or do you have to win?
We want to win. There is time to have a little fun and show a lighter side, but we want to play well and win. We're not at the level guys are playing at today, but pretty close. We're not strung quite as tight, needing to win and having to win.
That doesn't sound like comeback talk.
The day-in and day-out grind of the sport, the track work and all that, is not in me anymore. I have two boys, 4 and a half and a year and a half old. I'm chasing them around.
Put a racket in their hands yet?
My 4-year-old has a small racket; he loves it. He's got this funky grip. When I tell him to change it, he says, "Daddy, I know."
You turned pro at 17. Do you think it's smart for athletes to get into professional sports so young?
You need good people around you. Take your time. Look at [golfer] Michelle Wie, who sort of exploded, but it might have hurt her career. It's a fine balance of what you want in your life. Having good parents, a good upbringing, a good agent, setting up your life to be the best in your sport --- pick and choose, and be smart about it.