Samprasfanz

AFP
Hamburg, May 6

American Pete Sampras has pulled out of the Hamburg Masters ATP event next week, tournament director Walter Knapper said on Tuesday.

The 31-year-old reigning US Open champion, who had also pulled out of this week’s Rome event, now looks less and less likely to play at Roland Garros, the world’s top clay court event in Paris, in three weeks’ time.

The seven-time Wimbledon champion has received a wild-card entrance to Queen’s, a curtain-raiser to the All England Club event, and the signs are he may finish his sabbatical at that London event.

Sampras’ last match was his victory in the final of the US Open on September 8 2002, his 14th career Grand Slam title.

Since then he has taken an extended break from the game, becoming a father in November.