Samprasfanz

[WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2002 By Matthew Cronin tennisreporters.net]

Says French, Wimbledon could motivate return

Paul Annacone played golf with his student, Pete Sampras, last Friday in LA and Sampras’ coach said that the 14-time Grand Slam champion still isn’t sure whether he will continue playing next year. But did say that Sampras is keeping himself in shape just in case he decides to head Down Under in January. He added that Sampras does have enough desire to make another run at another major title.

“He’s still hitting the gym and track and practicing a little,” Annacone told tennisreporters.net. “He knows that he can’t go cold turkey for three months if he’s going to have a chance at another major.”

Sampras is apparently thinking that it will be tough to top the magic he created in New York last month, when he won his first title in more than two years at the US Open, edging his great rival, Andre Agassi, in stirring four-setter.

“In a romantic way, it might not ever get better than that,” Annacone said “Finishing his career that way would be spectacular. But the fact is now that playing tennis is fun for him again and after winning the Open, he now knows he can play at a high level once again. The tricky and tough part of the decision for Pete will be deciding whether he can maintain a positive attitude week in and week out if he loses some matches