Samprasfanz

By DENNIS PASSA, Associated Press Writer
January 21, 2005

Andre Agassi had some classic battles with Pete Sampras. With no sign of retirement in the near future, he’s now sizing up his rival’s son.

After Agassi’s three-set win over Taylor Dent on Friday at the Australian Open, courtside television commentator Jim Courier asked Agassi when Jaden Gil, Agassi’s 3-year-old son, might play against Christian Sampras, who is 2 years old.

“Would it shock you if I said I was going to play Christian Sampras before Jaden does?” Agassi joked.

He then turned more serious.

“I hope my kids learn to love it,” said Agassi, who also has a 15-month-old daughter, Jaz Elle, with wife Steffi Graf.

“Ultimately, my biggest hope for my child is that he’s focused on something. Hopefully he’ll choose tennis, because I love it so much. If he doesn’t, maybe Christian Sampras will.”

Agassi, 34, and Graf married in October 2001. Sampras married actress Bridgette Wilson in September 2000.

SELECTIVE VIEWING

Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova acknowledged that she only watches tennis on television “when I’m feeling really, really bored.” And if she does, it’s nearly always men’s matches.

“I always like exciting matches, I always loved when Agassi played Pete Sampras, I thought those were classic matches where the tennis is unbelievable. Obviously Roger (Federer) is playing out of his mind
right now, you can never get bored watching him.

“As for the women, I don’t really watch the women too much.”