Sampras changes preparation routine
June 20, 2002
The view is inspiring, the grass luxuriant and yet these two splendid reasons for spending a couple of hours in deepest Buckinghamshire will be of secondary importance to Pete Sampras today.
Sampras, seven times the Wimbledon champion, has asked for a spot in the Boodle & Dunthorne Champions' Challenge at the Stoke Park Club today to get just one more competitive match beneath his belt before the Championships open on Monday. Initially, Sampras was hoping a left-handed opponent could be found to replicate the challenge that Martin Lee will offer in the first round but the message came through last night that he would be prepared to play anyone.
It is another break with the general routine - Sampras prefers to keep himself to himself and practise at Wimbledon's Aorangi Park - after he chose to play in Germany last week rather than take the option of a wild card into the Stella Artois tournament at Queen's Club. For the fledgeling Champions' Challenge, it is a coup.
Sampras's next competitive appearance will be on Centre Court against Lee, the British No 3, who lost there in the second round to Tim Henman in 2001. "I hit with Pete four times last year and spoke to him a little bit," Lee said. "He knows I can play."
In a separate news interview, Lee announced that he is confident of causing an upset when he meets sixth seed Pete Sampras in the first round of Wimbledon next week.
Lee said: "I always like to play one of the top players and it is a great opportunity for me. As Barry proved, Pete Sampras is not invincible. (Fellow Briton Barry Cowan pushed Sampras to five sets in last year's 2nd round.)
"If I'd played him last year it would have been too early for me. But because I'm in the world's top 100 I'm playing the top players every week now and that has helped.
"Pete's still a big force but there's one or two things which aren't quite what they used to be. I will be going in there with nothing to lose."
Lee is no stranger to the big day at Wimbledon, losing to Tim Henman in the second round on Centre Court last year.
He added: "Hopefully the crowd will be on my side a bit more this time.
"I will be ready for it because for me Wimbledon is the best tournament in the world and it will be such a big occasion."
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