Samprasfanz

May 15, 2003, LOS ANGELES (AP) — Pete Sampras pulled out of Wimbledon and the French Open and probably won’t return to competitive tennis, the Los Angeles Times reported on its Web site Thursday. Sampras has not played a match since a surprising run to the U.S. Open title in September for his record 14th career Grand Slam singles championship. He has withdrawn from a succession of tournaments this season, leading many to believe he wouldn’t return to the sport. “I’m not 100 percent going to close the door,” Sampras, 31, told the newspaper, “but I know what it takes to be competitive — the training and preparation and the seven-day-a-week dedication — and I’m just not there right now.” His brother, Gus, told The Associated Press on Thursday he … Read entire article »

AFPHamburg, May 6 American Pete Sampras has pulled out of the Hamburg Masters ATP event next week, tournament director Walter Knapper said on Tuesday. The 31-year-old reigning US Open champion, who had also pulled out of this week’s Rome event, now looks less and less likely to play at Roland Garros, the world’s top clay court event in Paris, in three weeks’ time. The seven-time Wimbledon champion has received a wild-card entrance to Queen’s, a curtain-raiser to the All England Club event, and the signs are he may finish his sabbatical at that London event. Sampras’ last match was his victory in the final of the US Open on September 8 2002, his 14th career Grand Slam title. Since then he has taken an extended break from the game, becoming a father in … Read entire article »