Thursday, February 1, 2007
Local tennis: Sampras' return making waves in tennis world
By TOM RIFE
Even though Pete Sampras isn't scheduled to play the Oliver Group Champions Cup come March 7-11 at The Players Club & Spa at Lely Resort, his return to competitive, albeit senior, tennis is making some waves, that's for sure.
Sampras, along with Outback Champions Series co-owner Jim Courier, announced this week that Sampras will make his Outback debut after the season-opening Naples stop.
Sampras will be in the field in the second event of 2007, which will be in Boston come May 2-6.
When the two held a media session earlier this week, Sampras was asked mostly about the domination of Swiss star Roger Federer and about American Andy Roddick.
Eventually, the conversation did get around to Sampras' goals once he plays on the Champions Tour.
Sampras confirmed that to date, the Boston tourney is the only one to which he has committed.
"I'm going to see how that goes," Sampras said. "Haven't made any plans for anything after that. Just going to see how it feels playing in Boston. I'd like to play more. We'll just kind of play it by ear on that one."
Sampras, now 35, established himself as arguably the greatest tennis player of all time, winning a men's record 14 Grand Slam singles titles --- seven Wimbledon titles (1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000), five U.S. Open titles (1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2002) and two Australian Open titles (1994, 1997). He won 64 career ATP singles titles and was ranked No. 1 in the world for a record 286 weeks, including a record six-year stretch as year-end No. 1 from 1993 to 1998. In addition, Sampras helped the United States to Davis Cup titles in 1992 and in 1995.
Sampras said the idea of playing competitively again seemed to be a matter of timing.
"I basically got my feet wet a little last year, played a little Team Tennis, a few exhibitions here and there," he said. "I've talked to Jim over the past couple years just about his events, what he has to offer. I thought about it. I felt this year was an opportunity for me to kind of take it to the next level, play at a higher level, play against former greats, Jim, John, the rest of the guys."
"You're playing to some extent a tournament. There's a time and place for exhibitions, but a tournament, where you have prize money, I think we all go out taking it a little more sense of urgency. I'm kind of looking forward to taking it to the next level. I prepare a little bit harder. Playing four matches hopefully in five days, I'll have to be in a little bit of shape."