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2002 REVIEW: Serena and Sampras [Dec 23, 2002]

BY HOWARD FENDRICHAssociated PressDec 23, 2002 9:50 p.m. Tennis 2002 was mainly about Serena and Sampras.For all the out-of-nowhere champions, fantastic comebacks and high-profile spats, the sport’s most significant scenes came courtesy of the younger Williams and Pistol Pete. Emerging as the best player in her home and the world, Williams swept the last three Grand Slam titles for what she called a “Serena Slam” — beating sister Venus each time. If hers was the most impressive overall performance, Sampras’ exclamation point of a U.S. Open had to be the most personally satisfying moment. “This one may take the cake,” Sampras said after beating Andre Agassi for a fifth U.S. Open title and record 14th in a Grand Slam event. “The way I’ve been going this year, to come through a very tough … Read entire article »

Filed under: Archives 2003 to 2011

Sampras’ plans affect USTA [Dec 22, 2002]

Pete Sampras is back at least through Wimbledon. After that, we’ll see. After three months of deliberating the rest of his life, the man who might be the greatest tennis player decided he wasn’t quite ready to retire, at least not until he properly says goodbye at the Grand Slam he has won seven times. Friends say Sampras deliberated long and hard over the decision not to leave the game just yet. Once his son was born last month, life seemed less complex. He’ll not go to Australia, which will give him an extra month to help his wife reorganize the family’s agenda, then fly up to the San Francisco Bay Area from Los Angeles to play San Jose in early February. He’ll stay on the West Coast for Scottsdale (early March), followed by … Read entire article »

Filed under: Archives 2003 to 2011

Annacone quits USTA to rejoin Sampras, stuns staff [Dec 21, 2002]

After overseeing a massive restructuring of the USA Tennis High Performance program that included dismissing its coaching staff, Managing Director Paul Annacone abruptly quit the organization on Thursday to resume coaching Pete Sampras full time, stunning some staffers who expected him oversee the program he worked so hard to reinvent. “The coaches I talked to were pretty stunned,” one USTA staffer told tennisreporters.net. “It was completely unexpected.” Annacone, who joined the USTA in late 2001 after Sampras dismissed him, spent much of this year creating the USA Tennis High Performance national training center concept, which will begin operation next year at AEG’s sports complex in Carson, California, and add more staff and programs to its existing site in Key Biscyane, Florida. Until November 2001 when he and Sampras parted ways, Annacone had coached … Read entire article »

Filed under: Archives 2003 to 2011

Annacone to Be Sampras’ Full – Time Coach [Dec 21, 2002]

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) — Pete Sampras is serious about sticking to tennis. Not only will he keep playing, but the 14-time Grand Slam tournament champion is bringing back Paul Annacone as his full-time coach. Annacone resigned Thursday as managing director of USA Tennis High Performance after a year of running the program aimed at developing stars of the future. “The opportunity to rejoin Pete at this time in his career is special for both of us, and an opportunity I could not pass up, and one that requires full-time dedication,” Annacone said. He worked with Sampras from 1995 until December 2001. They got back together in July on a part-time basis, and Sampras gave Annacone a lot of credit for helping him win the U.S. Open — ending a drought … Read entire article »

Filed under: Archives 2003 to 2011

Sampras to play on, but not in Melbourne – [Dec 20, 2002]

Pete Sampras wil return to the court in February. Pete Sampras’ exceptional career will continue – just not next month and, consequently, not in Australia. Sampras will play on for at least another year, but seems unlikely to return in an active capacity to Melbourne Park. The grand slam singles record-holder and two-time Australian Open champion said this week he would end the hiatus that followed his surprise September victory at the United States Open, and plans to resume for a 16th season in San Jose from February 10. That means, for reasons of inadequate preparation, no Australian visit for only the second time in 11 years, and no commitment beyond the defence of his fifth US championship. Sampras’ personal Holy Grail, the French Open, will feature on his 2003 schedule, as will … Read entire article »

Filed under: Archives 2003 to 2011

The Best of Pete by Csilla Kiss

Over the years, Pete Sampras has played many memorable matches. Here are “The Best of the Best” as compiled by our Samprasfanz member, Csilla Kiss. (Originally posted on the messageboard in December, 2002) Highest Drama 1) ’96 USO QF vs. Corretja 2) ’95 AO QF vs. Courier: these 2 are total no-brainers 3) ’96 RG QF vs. Courier: what is this about QFs? Like I often said, my favourite period in 1996: he was the cutest then. This was just another example of pouring all that emotion & heart into a tennis match (“He’s got a big heart & will leave it on the court”- Courier) It’s not fair he didn’t win Roland Garros that year. 4) ’00 Wimbledon 2nd rd vs. Kucera: compared to the top 3, relatively muted drama, but considering the circumstances … Read entire article »

Filed under: Fanzone, Written by Fanz