Sampras says he'll decide at end of 2003 whether to quit
August 19, 2002
Pete Sampras will assess his career at the end of 2003. Until then, don't talk to him about retirement.
"At the end of next year, I'll see where it's all at and then make a decision. That doesn't mean I'm going to stop or continue,'' the owner of a record 13 Grand Slam singles titles said Monday.
"I deserve to make my own decision as to when I leave the sport.''
He'll tune up for the U.S. Open, which starts Aug. 26, at the TD Waterhouse Cup, where he was a finalist last year. He also reached the final of the Open in 2001, losing to Lleyton Hewitt.
Sampras drew a first-round bye here and plays his first match Tuesday against Paul-Henri Mathieu of France, who won his opener against Guillermo Coria of Argentina 6-1, 7-6 (4).
Sampras lost in the first round of the French Open and the second round of Wimbledon this year.
"The day's of dominating and being No. 1 are over. I have to get my confidence back and you need to win matches for that to happen,'' Sampras said. "My goal is to win another major and I believe I can in this year's U.S. Open, even though I haven't shown much this year.''
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