Posted on: February 26th, 2003
Still no sign of Sampras [Feb 26, 2003]
- petepageWill he or won’t he? 14-time Grand Slam champion Pete Sampras promised he'd return, but has not been seen on a court since winning the US Open. After pulling out of next month's Scottsdale tournament, James Buddell wonders if we have seen the last of the American legend.
Brother Gus, the Scottsdale tournament director was clearly disappointed: "I talked to Pete this morning and he’s still trying to figure out whether it makes sense to continue on. He's just not sure."
Five months have elapsed since the 32-year-old ended a two-year tournament drought last September by winning his fifth US Open title, beating longtime arch-rival Andre Agassi 6-3 6-4 5-7 6-4. Since then, the tennis world has held its breath, left guessing as to a possible return.
Much however, has happened since then, to arguably the greatest tennis player ever to swing a racket. Most notably, his wife, actress Bridgette Wilson, gave birth to the couple’s first son, Christian, in December.
Sampras appears torn, citing insufficient preparation for a return to the tour. Fellow American Justin Gimelstob has practised with him in Florida and his coach Paul Annacone "hopes that he decides to play on."
But what for?
Another crack at that elusive first French Open title? Or a strong show at
Wimbledon to erase the bitter memory of his 2002 second round humiliation at the hands of Swiss qualifer Georg Bastl?
Sampras’ brother Gus appears skeptical: "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."
A career full of record-breaking achievement as the world’s premier player for six years from 1993-1998, the number of Wimbledon crowns in the modern era and prize money of $43m, to add to his trophy cabinet of 64 titles.
Sampras serious about the French? In an era when hispanic clay court specialists appear to have a stranglehold on Roland Garros, the tournament would not appear to rank among the ambitions of serve-and-volleyer Sampras.
But the Greek-American has been spotted practicing on clay during the off-season, fueling the most contradictory of rumours.
But smart money would go against an Agassi-style revival!
The Vegas Kid's achievement of returning to the top after free-falling to 141 in the world and playing challenger tournaments in 1997, are a reference in tennis lore.
But Sampras is not in the same boat. He last left the court as a champion.
It's mission accomplished for Sampras: the boy who grew up idolising the ‘Rockhampton Rocket’ Rod Laver, watching 12mm Wimbledon footage with coach Pete Fisher at his dinner table, hoped one day to be uttered in the same breadth as the great Australian. Today, his place in the pantheon of tennis is safe.
For now though, the waiting game continues...
Source: Eurosport
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