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Congratulations Pete on Your Induction to the Tennis Hall of Fame

Congratulations Pete on Your Induction to the Tennis Hall of Fame

“I embrace the quiet way and I walked the high road as best as I could. Above all, I wanted to represent myself, my family, and the game in a way in which we could all be proud of. “So as I take my place among the greatest players of all time here in the Hall of Fame, I stand before you both humble and grateful. I’m a tennis player, nothing more and nothing less. It’s … Read entire article »

Filed under: Pete Sampras

Jet sets for Pete – Sampras, Courier play new venue

By: Rikki N. Massand, amNewYork July 27, 2007 For once, Pete Sampras’ serve wasn’t the fastest thing at a tennis match. With Maseratis and a private jet parked outside an airport-hangar-turned-court, Sampras beat longtime rival Jim Courier, 7-5, 7-5, in a spirited exhibition match. A crowd of affluent onlookers cheered the players on at Farmingdale’s Republic Airport on Thursday, just four weeks before the kickoff of the U.S. Open. The American greats renewed their 1990s rivalry on a blue court that occupied the parking spot of a not-yet- released Hawker 4000 jet owned by Talon Air, the luxury charter airline that sponsored the event. Sampras, 35, and Courier, 36, met in eight Grand Slam finals in the 1990s, and Sampras won six of their meetings. But this wasn’t the dazzling Pistol Pete of old Tweet … Read entire article »

Filed under: Archives 2003 to 2011

Sampras shows his playful side

By Kathleen Nelson, St Louis Post July 25, 2007 Tennis has crept back into the life of Pete Sampras since he retired almost five years ago. He dipped his toe back in a year ago, playing a limited schedule of World TeamTennis. He returned for a second season with the Newport Beach (Calif.) Breakers, who lost 22-18 to the Aces before a sellout crowd of 2,000 Tuesday night at Dwight Davis Tennis Center in the final match of the season. “I was pretty rusty last year,” Sampras said. “But I’ve been pretty consistent this year, playing more events.” Last year’s foray led to appearances this spring with the Champions Series and a return to team tennis for four matches with the Breakers. “I want to play well, but I can be a little more lighthearted, have … Read entire article »

Filed under: Archives 2003 to 2011

Tennis legends entertain

By Lorenzo Perez, News & Observer July 22, 2007 RALEIGH – The fans began to whistle and clap, anticipating a vintage 1980 tantrum from John McEnroe when the line umpire sat motionless. McEnroe had allowed Pete Sampras’ volley return to bounce past uncontested, anticipating it would be ruled out.Yet none of the umpires at Saturday’s exhibition match were going to be swayed merely by the glare from a fiery Hall of Fame tennis player. The glare never ignited past a few muttered complaints and the 48-year-old McEnroe proved more eager to play for laughs and the appreciation of a modest RBC Center crowd there to witness two of the greatest American tennis players compete. The volleys were shorter, the serves several ticks slower on the radar gun, but a graying McEnroe and a slightly … Read entire article »

Filed under: Archives 2003 to 2011

Sampras edges McEnroe at U.Va.

July 20, 2007 CHARLOTTESVILLE — Pete Sampras outlasted John McEnroe 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 1-0 (10-8) Friday night in a charity exhibition at the University of Virginia’s John Paul Jones Arena. Tweet … Read entire article »

Filed under: Archives 2003 to 2011

For Sampras, it all began here

The tennis great, back for a WTT match, won his first pro title in Phila. By Zach Berman, Philadelphia Inquirer Jul. 20, 2007 – Pete Sampras drove by the stadium area on South Broad Street after arriving in Philadelphia on Wednesday night, saw the skyline in the distance, and was taken back in time. Sampras won his first professional championship in Philadelphia in 1990. The win launched one of the most prolific tennis careers in history. “This is when I went from a young guy ranked 40 to a guy ranked 12th in the world to a couple of months later winning the U.S. Open,” Sampras said. “This is a city that was my first time, and I’ll always remember that.” He was back in Philadelphia with the Newport Beach Breakers for a World TeamTennis … Read entire article »

Filed under: Archives 2003 to 2011