Samprasfanz

World number one Roger Federer will play the first of three matches against seven-time Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras in Seoul on Tuesday.

Federer, who retained his Masters Cup title on Sunday, will also take on Sampras in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday and Macau on Saturday.

Sampras, 36, retired in 2002 but has been training hard for the exhibitions.

“I am up against a very big challenge, I’ve been stepping up my practice,” said Sampras.

“Perhaps I am not quite as sharp as I used to be, but I think I can still be competitive. But I’ve got my hands full for sure.”

Federer said: “It’s a great honour, but not easy at the same time. People will be surprised how well he’s actually playing today.

“It’s going to be difficult because I practised with him in LA this year.

“He seemed to play very, very well. He’s still got the lethal forehand, the great slice and the great serve, you know, the fantastic movement and volleys.”

Federer, 26, won his 12th Grand Slam title at the US Open in September and is closing in on Sampras’s record of 14.

Federer and Sampras met only once in competition, with the Swiss winning a five-set thriller in the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2001.

Source: BBC