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News on Sampras

Posted on: October 03rd, 2002

Live from WTT

- petepage

The following is a report from a member of Samprasfanz who went to the event [October 3, 2002]:

"Hey all, I haven't posted here in a while, but I just got back about an hour ago from seeing Pete play in the Smash Hits tennis event. It was the first time I got too see him live, and I was so overwhelmed -- it was just awesome. This was a tiny venue (a college basketball stadium) so my seats were right behind the court, and since it is a charity thing, I even got to move down way to the front! I could see the sweat on Pete's arms! He looked very relaxed and was having a lot of fun. He played mixed doubles with an up and coming junior girl against Agassi and another girl. It was funny because Andre kept crushing the ball at the girls when they were at net, and he kept aiming at them time after time until the crowd started booing him! Pete and Elton John were both laughing it up.

Then, after the girls played a set of singles, Pete and Andre came back on for the big show -- two sets -one on one. The first time I see Pete and he is playing Andre! WHAT INCREDIBLE LUCK! The two guys looked really focused, it kinda surprised me -- as if they just turned it on as soon as they had to play each other. There was none of the goofing around which I have seen in past years of this event. Pete was cranking aces, and was even arguing line calls, which I found absolutely absurd and hilarious!!!! Pete was in fine form, which surprised me since he probably hasn't practiced much since the Open. He was attacking Andre and hitting backhand return winners to the oooh's and aawws of the crowd. At 5-3 in the first, he was serving for the set, and it was deuce.

He hit what I thought was a second serve ace, and since in smash hits team tennis they don't play with ads, I thought he had won the set because he started walking to his chair. I guess I didn't hear an out call because of the crowd but next thing I know the scoreboard says 5-4. Andre held and they played a tiebreaker at 5-5 which Pete was kinda sloppy in. He got down 0-3 in the second before coming alive with some beautiful returns and evening it up 3-3. At 4-5, serving to stay in the match, he double faulted to bring up match point and then Andre hit a nice return to win it.

But whatever, it doesn't really matter that he lost. I hope Andre is happy that he got his revenge, though I highly doubt this makes up for the U.S. Open loss! :)

Overall, it was a great night for me.

Oh, and there was one funny moment before the event at the charity auction. They were auctioning off a one-hour hitting session with Pete. It got up to $15,000 and then suddenly stopped. Pete was getting kinda pissed and so he was like "ok, you can come to my house on my private court and I'll even give you some pictures of Bridgette!" Miraculously, that inspired people to bid, and it went to $25,000 before it stopped again. Then Andre said "come on people, this is PETE SAMPRAS, last time I played him it cost me $400,000!" Haha, he was obviously talking about the prize money he lost as a runner up in the Open final. It finally sold at $30,000. Just great stuff and a fun night."

NICK

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