Samprasfanz

[July 20, 2003 AP] Pete Sampras plans to withdraw from the U.S. Open, opting not to defend his record 14th major title.

His last competitive match was the final of the 2002 Open, when he beat rival Andre Agassi. This season, the 32-year-old Sampras has pulled out of a succession of tournaments, including the majors: the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon.

While playing at a celebrity golf tournament at Lake Tahoe this weekend, he told NBC-TV “there’s a good chance” he will officially retire soon.

“Not being at the Open this year, which I’m going to pull out of, and not playing Wimbledon — I don’t miss it enough to really start training, start practicing, doing everything I have to do to be where I want to be,” Sampras said. “So it tells me it’s a sign to
say, ‘It’s probably time.'”

He’s won seven Wimbledons, five U.S. Opens and two Australian Opens. He hadn’t skipped Wimbledon since 1988. “I miss it, but it’s time probably to give it up,” Sampras said. “I feel like if I wasn’t going to play Wimbledon, then that was probably it for me, so that’s the way it goes.”

He withdrew from Sunday’s final round of the golf event here citing personal reasons, tourney spokesman Phil Weidinger said.