April 7, 2006
RIVER OAKS INTERNATIONAL
Everyone goes home pleased but Sampras
By Dale Robertson
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
Tennis legend sought good result, not exhibition loss
Pete Sampras tried to sneak around the back way, hitting partner Hugo Armando in tow, to get in a short warmup on a far back court before his first competitive tennis match since he won the 2002 U.S. Open.
But word spread quickly on the River Oaks grounds. Soon, nearly 100 curious fans lined the court, snapping pictures or paying quiet homage to one of the greatest tennis players.
Errant backhands
Those who paid attention to Sampras' gentle practice strokes, though, probably noticed something startling. The 14-time Grand Slam champion couldn't put a backhand in play. Topspin or slice, they sailed long. Some way long.
"I'm using the bigger racket now -- more power but less control," Sampras said later, after he lost to Robby Ginepri 6-3, 7-6 (10) in an entertaining exhibition Thursday night that lasted nearly two hours and marked his return to the competitive arena after a 3 1/2 -year hiatus.
"I felt OK out there, pretty good but definitely not great," he said. "The thing is, I don't care if I'm 34 and haven't played in awhile, you want to play well and put on a good show for the fans."
Which he did before a lively, appreciative sellout crowd. Sampras did plenty to remind people how good he used to be but not enough to satisfy himself. The competitor in him expected a win, never mind that in Ginepri, 11 years his junior, he was playing the No. 1 seed in the River Oaks International. Or at least Ginepri was before Vasilis Mazarakis upset him.
"I was a little shaky at the start and a little winded at the end," Sampras said. "Actually playing, with people watching, is a lot different from practicing."