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Chat with a Champion

By: Steve Fink, Tennis Channel December 22, 2008 If you don’t believe that time passes much too swiftly, consider this: it has been more than six years since Pete Sampras finished his official professional career, defeating Andre Agassi for his fifth U.S. Open and 14th Grand Slam championship, making a unique departure from the game after establishing himself unequivocally as the man a good many authorities considered the best ever to step on a tennis court. For the better part of four years, he stayed away from the field of competition, returning in 2006 to play World TeamTennis and some exhibitions. In 2007, he branched out and won three tournaments on Jim Courier’s Outback Champions Series senior circuit, faced Roger Federer in three entertaining Asian showdowns (winning the last of those encounters in … Read entire article »

Filed under: Archives 2003 to 2011

Pete Sampras – Lleyton Hewitt Exho in February, 2009

December 18, 2008 – Pete Sampras and Lleyton Hewitt will be playing an exhibition match on February 16, 2009 at The Racquet Club in Memphis. The exho will help kick off the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships and Cellular South Cup and will serve as a marquee event for the tournaments’ new owners. Tickets will be available at Ticketmasters in January. Source: Commercial Appeal Tweet … Read entire article »

Filed under: Archives 2003 to 2011

Sampras back in Baton Rouge to face Blake

Dec 14, 2008 At 37, Pete Sampras isn’t quite the player he was when he dominated men’s tennis in the 1990s. The 14-time Grand Slam winner can still strike the ball with the best of them and rocket a serve past just about anybody, but some of his speed and agility has diminished with age. “I still hit it pretty well,” said Sampras, who retired in 2002. “I just don’t move quite as well. The reactions are not as quick.” What hasn’t diminished is his love of the game and willingness to help those in need. Sampras will be back in Baton Rouge today for the Duel Under the Oaks II, a best-of-three set exhibition match against current pro James Blake set for 2 p.m. in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The exhibition, sponsored by the … Read entire article »

Filed under: Archives 2003 to 2011

Pioline ends Sampras dream

December 6, 2008 Returning hero Pete Sampras was denied a place in the Blackrock Masters final by Frenchman Cedric Pioline, who won 7-6 (7), 7-6 (5) at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Pioline will face Britain’s Greg Rusedski in the final on Sunday December 7. Sampras, 37, quit tennis aged 31 and created a media frenzy on his first trip to England since Wimbledon 2002. “This place brings back memories, just being here and seeing the British people,” said Sampras. “It was good to be back. When you drive around the streets here, I think about my titles. I think about my wins. But unfortunately I couldn’t win it here. “It was a dogfight,” Sampras added. “Cedric is returning better today than he did back then.” It was a form of revenge for Pioline, who was … Read entire article »

Filed under: Archives 2003 to 2011

Pete Sampras loses in seniors event in London

December 6, 2008 LONDON — The memories all came flooding back to Pete Sampras, even if a title didn’t come with the nostalgia. The seven-time Wimbledon champion, playing in a seniors tournament at Royal Albert Hall, lost to Cedric Pioline 7-6 (7), 7-6 (5) Saturday. But not reaching Sunday’s final didn’t diminish the enjoyment of his first trip to England since losing at Wimbledon in 2002. “This place brings back memories … just being here and seeing the British people,” said the 37-year-old Sampras, who beat Pioline in the 1993 U.S. Open final and the ’97 Wimbledon final. “It was good to be back. “When you drive around the streets here, I think about my titles. I think about my wins. But unfortunately I couldn’t win it here.” On Wednesday, Sampras had 19 aces and … Read entire article »

Filed under: Archives 2003 to 2011

Sampras Beats Bates to Set up Winner-Take-All Pioline Showdown

December 5, 2008 Pete Sampras set up a mouth watering winner-take-all clash with Cedric Pioline on Saturday after battling to victory over former British number one Jeremy Bates at the BlackRock Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday. In a match that lasted just over an hour, Sampras was pushed to a second set tie break before eventually triumphing 6-3, 7-6(3) against an opponent nine years his senior. After the match, Sampras admitted he hadn’t been expecting to be pushed as hard as he was. “The match was much tougher than I thought it would be,” he said. “I think on this court Jeremy’s pretty effective and he was serving and volleying well, particularly in the second set. I felt like I played pretty well, a little spotty at times but … Read entire article »

Filed under: Archives 2003 to 2011