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Samprasfanz » Archives 2003 to 2011 » Sampras not ready to return yet, says brother [Feb 5, 2003]

Sampras not ready to return yet, says brother [Feb 5, 2003]

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 5 (Reuters) – U.S. Open champion Pete Sampras pulled out of next week’s tournament in San Jose because he is still not ready to return to the circuit, his brother said on Wednesday.

Gus Sampras, the tournament director of the ATP’s Scottsdale, Arizona event, where Pete is next scheduled to play, said that while the former world number one had not pulled out of the event yet, he was not quite mentally ready to begin playing matches again .

“He’s still searching for reasons to come back,” Gus Sampras told Reuters by telephone from Los Angeles. “At the end of the day, playing well at the French Open or trying to win Wimbledon again might not be enough to get him back.

“But I haven’t got the feeling that he is ready to retire tomorrow.”

Sampras has not played a tournament since winning the U.S. Open in September — his 14th grand-slam career win. He withdrew from the San Jose tournament, his first of the year, on Tuesday, saying he wasn’t fully prepared for the event.

Gus Sampras, who spoke to his younger brother on Monday, said that he wouldn’t be surprised if Pete retired, but felt that his brother would get the urge to play again once the season progresses.

“He told (me) he’s just not ready now,” Gus said. “He’s been working out a lot off court and doing some hitting, but he hasn’t been playing enough sets and doesn’t feel match tough.

“It’s hard to get going at the beginning of the year, especially when you haven’t played in so long. But in a month or so, I’m sure hoping he’ll be ready to play here.”

The Scottsdale tournament begins on March 3.

by: Matthew Cronin
02/05/03 20:40 ET

Filed under: Archives 2003 to 2011

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