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Sampras Has Fun In Return To Tampa

By JOEY JOHNSTON The Tampa Tribune
Published: Apr 29, 2007

TAMPA – Pete Sampras was in mid-ball toss, about to unleash his serve.

“Please, Pete, be gentle,” said doubles opponent Rennae Stubbs, into her microphone, as the crowd of 9,002 chuckled in unison during Saturday night’s lighthearted Mercedes-Benz Classic tennis exhibition at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Even Sampras doubled over in laughter. Then, regaining his composure, he smacked an ace. Just like old times. “This was fun,” Sampras said.

Sure, he was older (35) and certainly less focused than during his last major competitive effort (winning the 2002 U.S. Open), but in many ways, it was like seeing a ghost.

“Pete kind of pulled a Greta Garbo on us,” said Jim Courier, the Dade City native and former No. 1-ranked player who hosted the fourth annual charity event, which primarily benefited kids from the St. Petersburg Tennis Center. “He needed to get away [in retirement]. He had gone at it as hard as anybody has ever gone at it.

“As a fan of tennis, I love seeing him back in the game.”

Even on a limited basis.

Sampras, who holds the all-time men’s record with 14 Grand Slam singles titles, is playing exhibitions, along with two events on Courier’s Outback Champions Series 30-and-over tour. Returning to Tampa, his residence for six years, was a natural for Sampras, given his affiliation to the area and his friendship with Courier.

And local fans treated Sampras like a long-lost native son.

“When any of the great past champions comes back, people want them to know how much they love them,” said Stubbs, an Australian touring pro who lives at Harbour Island. “You saw how it was. They introduce the rest of us. Then they introduce Pete, and the reaction is thunderous.

“I know what the guys [on the ATP Tour] are talking about, how you can’t read Pete’s serve. The same ball toss, the same motion, but it’s hard to see what’s coming. And he wasn’t serving nearly [as hard] as he can. I know the people enjoyed it, because they got a glimpse of one of the best tennis players ever.”

Courier and Stubbs defeated Sampras and Nicole Vaidisova 6-3 in the mixed doubles match. In the men’s singles finale, Sampras beat Tampa’s Mardy Fish 7-6, 6-4, ending on an ace (Fish was a late replacement for Courier, who didn’t want to take any chances while still recuperating from a back injury).

The evening began with a celebrity doubles match as Chris Evert and actor Jon Lovitz beat actor Donal Logue and Vaidisova 6-4.

But clearly, the highlight was Sampras’ appearance.

“With Pete, you’re seeing a legend,” said Evert, a tennis legend in her own right. “I love playing these events because they benefit a great cause and I can be relaxed. I was, um, let’s say, pretty intense when I played during my career.

“Pete was the same way. Now his guard is down. He can hear the applause, feel the love. He deserves it. It’s great.”

The night also served as a reunion for Sampras, who lives in California, and Courier, who lives in New York. They were boyhood buddies, one-time doubles partners, head-to-head competitors for the No. 1 ranking and singles finalists at Wimbledon, 1993.

Courier and Sampras agreed that any tennis match they share still means something.

“It’s a testament to two guys who have respected one another and didn’t carry their matches off the court,” Sampras said. “I think Jim always wants to show me he has something left in his game, and I’m probably the same way.

“Jim is the most competitive guy I’ve ever been around. We like this type of fun environment. But do we both want to win? Heck, yeah. And afterward, we walk off, still great friends. We’ve been through the wars together.”

Source: Tampa Tribune

Filed under: Archives 2003 to 2011

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