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Posted on: December 15th, 2008

Sampras rekindles magic against Blake

- petepage

Dec. 15, 2008 - At least for one afternoon, tennis legend Pete Sampras proved he could still play with and beat just about anybody.

Sampras, who retired from competitive tennis in 2002, beat 10th-ranked James Blake, 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4 in an exhibition to benefit victims of hurricanes Gustav and Ike at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Sunday afternoon.

Sampras, who won seven Wimbledon and 14 Grand Slam titles overall during his 15-year career, showed his trademark big serve and powerful forehand and mixed in some fun to boot before about 7,000 fans at the PMAC in the Duel Under the Oaks II.

"I think one match at a time he can hang with anyone, especially on a quicker court," Blake said. "He still serves huge, hits a forehand huge and takes you out of your rhythm on your service game.

"I think you put him in a one-match situation like here today, and he can hang with the big boys. It doesn't look like too much has gone from his game."

Some questioned whether Blake, 28, was taking it easy on the 37-year-old Sampras.

"You know, obviously this is the offseason, but I was playing for real," he said.

Sampras wasn't totally buying it.

"I think James was being pretty courteous to the retired guy," said Sampras with a laugh. "I was serving pretty well and returning OK, but I'm not really sure how James was taking this match."

"I just wanted to be competitive, and if I could pull a set in the match, it was a bonus."

The match was competitive throughout with Blake winning a first-set tie-breaker 6-7 (3) before Sampras charged back to win the final two sets. In the first three games of the second set, Sampras won every service point.

"He served too good at times," Blake said.

With the second set tied at 3-3, Blake had a chance to break Sampras but couldn't do it as Sampras went on to a 6-3 win. Blake also had a chance in the third and deciding set and couldn't come through.

"I had some break points and didn't get them," Blake said. "He got that one in the last set and that was the difference. It was a close match. It could have gone either way. Pete, from what I understand, the reason he retired was not being able to do it day to day, the grind every day. But given one match at a time he can be with anyone in the world still."

There was some debate whether there would be a third set, but when both agreed, play continued. Sampras appeared to tire a bit in the third set, but was able to grind out the win.

"There was one point I was serving 2-1 and I wasn't serving that well and I was feeling it a little bit — my feet, my back," he said. "I don't play at this level very often. Usually, I play a couple of sets and that's it. But going into the third I felt OK, but I don't have the spring in my legs and I don't recover as well.

"I'll feel it tomorrow; there's no doubt. I'll be sore."

More important than the match was the ability help those in need, Sampras said of the event which was organized by the Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation.

"The crowd got into it. It was really good support for the charity and a good turnout," Sampras said. "It was a lot of fun."

Blake agreed.

"It was a lot of fun," he said. "I didn't know what to expect. To get to play a legend of the game is something you don't want to pass up."

Source: 2theadvocate.com

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