Samprasfanz

INDIAN WELLS, California, March 7 (Reuters) – Pete Sampras continued his slew off pullouts on Friday, withdrawing from the Nasdaq-100 Open in Miami just hours after pulling out of next week’s Pacific Life Open.

With Sampras deciding to skip the Florida event starting on March 19, he has now withdrawn from four consecutive tournaments.

His brother Gus, the tournament director of the Scottsdale Classic in Arizona, told Reuters by telephone that he spoke to his brother on Thursday and he still had not made a decision on whether he was set to retire.

“He’s still holding off,” Gus said.

“He’s still practicing and training the way he always has, but he’s not ready to make a decision.”

Gus Sampras added that his brother may still come back to contest the grand slams at the French Open or Wimbledon.

“He’s reflecting on everything and wants to see how he feels when he gets closer to the time,” Gus said.

“He taking it one week at a time. He doesn’t want to pull a Michael Jordan — retire and then come back again.”

Gus added that if his brother did retire, he would not have a farewell tour.

“That’s not him nor his style. If he going to play he’s going to play, he’s going to play seriously.”

Nasdaq tournament owner Butch Buchholtz also spoke to Sampras and said that the player told him the December birth of his first child had nothing to do with his decision to hold off.

“He feels he’s not at a top level yet and he doesn’t want to go through another drought,” Buchholz said.

Sampras has not played since winning the U.S. Open in September — his 14th grand slam win.

The 31-year-old is next scheduled to play the Houston on clay at the end of April.

03/07/03 22:39 ET