Samprasfanz

July 13, 2006 CARSON, Calif. (AP)– Just like old times: Pete Sampras vs. Jim Courier. The two retired Grand Slam champions and former No. 1-ranked players will square off in a best-of-3-sets exhibition match Aug. 7 during the WTA Tour stop in Carson. Sampras and Courier played 20 times as pros, with Sampras winning 16, including their only major final: at Wimbledon in 1993. Sampras won a record 14 Grand Slam titles, while Courier finished with four. “Jim and I have played some great tennis matches over our careers so it’s exciting to have the chance to rekindle our friendly rivalry in my backyard,” said Sampras, who grew up in southern California. Said Courier: “I look forward to renewing our rivalry.” Source: CBS Sportsline Tweet … Read entire article »

By Tim Casey, Sacramento BeeJuly 13, 2006 Surrounded by two security guards and a few World TeamTennis officials, Pete Sampras walked into the second floor of Macy’s at Sunrise Mall on Wednesday night. Looking around, he seemed confused. “I’ve never done something like this in a furniture store before,” he said. Sampras then sat in an off-white leather chair for a news conference before the Capitals’ 20-17 victory over the Newport Beach Breakers, Sampras’ new team. No, it wasn’t a typical setting. It also was strange seeing Sampras in such a relaxed atmosphere and playing at a lower level. Sampras lost 5-2 to Jesuit High School alum Sam Warburg, who idolized Sampras growing up. In doubles, he and Rick Leach lost 5-2 to Warburg and Mark Knowles. Sampras still had his booming serve, hitting a few above … Read entire article »

By Mark Lamport-Stokes, Reuters NEWPORT BEACH, California, July 10 – Driven by victory during his glittering ATP career, Pete Sampras settled on having some fun in his World TeamTennis (WTT) debut on Monday. The 34-year-old won his doubles match but lost his singles encounter to world number 211 John Paul Fruttero as his Newport Beach Breakers team were beaten 22-20 by the visiting St Louis Aces at the Palisades Tennis Club. Sampras, who produced a mix of vintage serve-and-volley form with some rusty backhands, took great delight in entertaining a capacity crowd of 2,000. “The atmosphere was great,” the former world number one told reporters after making his Pro league debut. “The crowd really got behind the team. I didn’t know how it was going to be tonight but I actually enjoyed it. I’m looking … Read entire article »

By Steve Ginsburg, Reuters WASHINGTON – Bored, restless and looking to add a little structure to his life, Pete Sampras returns to the tennis court next week but the 14-times Grand Slam champion has no thoughts of coming back to the ATP circuit. The 34-year-old will dust off the mothballs to his game on Monday when he plays a World TeamTennis match for the Newport Beach Breakers who host the St. Louis Aces. TeamTennis features teams playing sets of singles, doubles and mixed, a relaxed atmosphere compared to the high-pressure of the big-money ATP circuit. “I think end of last year, I was getting a little bit restless, maybe a little bored trying to figure out what was next for me,” Sampras told a conference call on Thursday. “I kind of … Read entire article »

2006 TELECONFERENCES: World Team Tennis Teleconference with Pete Sampras JOSH WEISSMAN: This is Josh Weissman with the World Team Tennis. I appreciate everyone coming on the call today. We have Pete Sampras on the line. He will be debuting on Monday night in Newport Beach with the Newport Beach Breakers. He’ll be playing one home match this year in Newport Beach, and he’ll be on the road throughout July for six more matches. I want to say thank you to Pete for joining us on the call today. We’ll take some questions for Pete. Q. A question about Andre Agassi, who two weeks ago retired. I was wondering your comments on the retirement of Andre. PETE SAMPRAS: Like I said, when he announced it, it was the end of an era. He was a great … Read entire article »

By Christine Brennan, USA Today For three years, Pete Sampras didn’t pick up a tennis racket. He retired cold turkey. Other than the occasional playful tap with his now-3-year-old son, he didn’t hit a “serious ball” from the summer of 2003 until the spring of 2006. He considered himself done with tennis, throwing himself into retirement the way he once threw himself into the game, with all his heart. “The first year of retirement, you really enjoy it, you have some fun,” he said over the phone the other day. “The second year of retirement, you still have fun but you wonder what’s next. The third year, it’s like, ‘OK, I’m ready to do something more than just playing poker once a week and playing golf and staying at home,’ so I … Read entire article »