Posted on: May 03rd, 2007
Sampras back in the running
- petepageHe'll try to enhance his legend this week
By Bud Collins, Globe Correspondent
May 2, 2007 - Pete Sampras is back in the ballgame. Not quite the same game he departed spectacularly, uniquely, five years ago by beating Andre Agassi for the US Open title, his 14th singles major. No great tennis champion had ever bade farewell on such an Everestian note. Firing the last aces, nailing the concluding volleys -- all with effortless smoothness -- Silky Sampras waved goodbye at Flushing Meadow, and that was it.
However, here he is again, in The Bean, of all places, giving us a post-retreat treat, hoping to show us how he did it amid a gang of almost-elder toughs resurrected by promoter-player Jim Courier. It's not a comeback, says Sampras, 36, over the phone from his Beverly Hills home, eager to mix it up once more as Courier's $142,000 Champions Cup Boston, an eight-man ensemble, sets up shop at Boston University's Agganis Arena tonight through Sunday. Isn't it fitting that Greek-blooded Pete should rev up again in the playpen named for the Golden Greek, Harry Agganis?
Call it a reappearance, a "next chapter," he says. Perhaps a revival meeting as he gives us that old-fashioned religion of serve-and-volley. The names are familiar, all holders of majors: Petr Korda, Mats Wilander, and John McEnroe (the 2006 runner-up to Todd Martin) are lined up to oppose Sampras in the round-robin stage. On the other side of the draw are Courier, Martin, Pat Cash, and Wayne Ferreira, victor in the tour's opener at Naples, Fla.
Courier, founding father of the limited tour backed by Outback eateries (seven tournaments), wooed Pete gently, saying, "We want you, but whenever you feel you want to play."
After all, how much golf can satisfy a 4-handicap multimillionaire who was used to running to his tennis titles?
"I was getting restless," says Sampras. "I thought this would be good for me to get fit and focused. I was up around 200, but now I'm down to my playing weight, 185. I've worked hard because I have pride in playing well. I'm curious to see how I can compete with these guys."
One of his sparring partners has been none other than a Swiss named Roger Federer.
"Roger called me when he was on the way to Indian Wells and asked if he could stop by," says Sampras. "I didn't really know him. But I found he's a great guy. Very pleasant. We played on my court, and I'd say I held my own. But Roger has an extra gear, and that makes him so great."
Federer, of course, is stalking Sampras as Pete did Aussie Roy Emerson in the major titles derby. Having eclipsed Emerson at 13 with his seventh Wimbledon prize in 2000, Sampras says, "Roger will pass me. No doubt. He's got 10 now, and I think he'll have 18, like Jack Nicklaus.
"I think I can be competitive with these guys after my layoff. Is that reality or my ego talking? I'm using a newer Wilson racket, a little bigger, the one Roger uses. The new Luxilon strings -- I mix them with gut -- are a miracle. I wish I'd had them when I was trying to win the French. I'm not as quick, but I'm hitting the ball great."
As much as he admires Federer, Sampras feels that his own road to No. 1 and staying there was bumpier. Rafael Nadal appears to be Federer's lone obstacle. Sampras was battling Agassi, Courier, Martin, Korda, Michael Chang, Stefan Edberg, Boris Becker, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Richard Krajicek, Pat Rafter, Goran Ivanisevic, and Michael Stich in their primes as well as aging Ivan Lendl and McEnroe.
"There are more good players today, but not so many guys winning majors that I faced."
Sampras says, "I'm not a look-back guy. But I am kind of reflective about my career now that I'm going into the Hall of Fame at Newport [July 14]. It's a great honor. I'll have my parents, my whole family there."
After spending most of his life as an itinerant, Pete was glad to be at home "watching my two kids growing up.
"I still have great hands," he laughs. "You should see me doing diapers."
Source: Boston Globe
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