For a change, Pete Sampras was feeling chatty in this interview with The Idaho Statesman:
...In retirement, Sampras found lots of things he enjoys — golf, poker, quality time with his two young sons — but nothing that gives him the same satisfaction as a day of hard work.
"Every man needs to work," Sampras told the Idaho Statesman during a telephone interview last week. "I'm not much of a business coat-and-tie guy, not much of a computer-and-phone guy. I'm an athlete."
Pete Sampras turned 35 yesterday. Eerie, isn't it, that he and Roger have almost identical stats up to this point (Roger: 8 slams, 39 titles, 132 weeks at no. 1; Pete: 7 slams, 40 titles, 133 weeks at number 1) and were born almost exactly one decade apart (Roger's b-day was aug. 8th)?
*Illustration Created by Caricature Zone
Chris (of Meshtennis.com) hit and hung out with PETE SAMPRAS at a World Team Tennis event on thursday. Lucky bastard. Here's his rundown of his evening.
Justine Henin-Hardenne is out of the Acura Classic event which starts July 31, with a right knee injury. She'll be replaced by Tatiana Golovin.
Sampras in Connecticut: At one point before he served, the quiet Sampras drew laughter from the crowd when a Pearl Jam song was briefly played on the PA system. He stopped his toss and said to the soundman, "That’s the best thing you played all night." Read 'Sampras Takes on the FoxForce' .
He lost, but it's good to hear he's enjoying himself. Read 'Sampras Happy to Have Fun on Court in WTT Debut'
Pete Sampras plays his first World Team Tennis match monday.
From the NY Times: In His Return, Sampras Puts the Focus on Grinning /Here's Sampras on Agassi, Nadal, Federer, WTT and much more.
Here are up-to-the-minute Sampras news headlines.
Federer could be The GOAT, from the mouth of Pete Sampras.
John McEnroe's done an interview for the Tennis Channel's Center Court program; Tennis Week's printed portions of it on their website.
Choice quotes:
On playing Davis Cup doubles with Sampras in '92: "We turned it around and ended up winning in five sets. Pete he may not admit this, but he hugged me and he told me he loved me."
...
"Do I think on a given day I could beat, the best woman in the world? Yes I do. Do I think on a given day that I could beat some guys on the right surface under the right conditions for a set or two? [Yes.]"
*photo from bashof.org
Bjorn Borg picks Rod Laver, Roger Federer, Pete Sampras and himself as the top four tennis players ever. (Hmm. I wonder what John McEnroe would have to say about that.)
Choice quote: Borg said current world No 1 Federer would likely master an old-fashioned wooden racquet unlike many other active top players. "A player like Federer is the master of everything, he has no weaknesses," Borg said.
Read the Article: Tennis great Borg rates himself in top four
Also, a lengthier Borg article: Borg, at 50, still feels young inside
After a couple of years of avoiding anything to do with tennis, Pete Sampras made his return in an exhibition match against Robby Ginepri at the River Oaks International.
So what's going on with Pete these days? There were several articles this week updating us.
From the Houston Chronicle: Retiring wasn't easy for Sampras
So there were regrets after all, it appears. Although Pete Sampras did what few great athletes do — he said goodbye from the rarefied air of the mountaintop — the script was never as neat and tidy as we assumed.
Because Sampras put down his racket after winning on the biggest tennis stage his country has to offer, he was roundly cheered for knowing when to say when. The only thing he could have done better, it was suggested, would have been to tell the world he was retired as soon as he had beaten his rival, Andre Agassi, to win the 2002 U.S. Open.
From the Houston Chronicle: Sampras couldn't say no to River Oaks
Pete Sampras could have launched his competitive comeback in a lot of places. River Oaks Country Club won out because of its ... golf course.
Well, maybe that's an overstatement. Truth to tell, Sampras liked everything about the River Oaks proposal. But he definitely had fond memories of his first visit to the club when IMG dispatched him here as a gawky, unknown 17-year-old.
"I remember the old wood stadium and this great golf course there," Sampras said.
Continue reading "Sampras Explains Why He Chose to Play River Oaks" »
When a publication asks an active athlete to write a column, this is the kind of inside information they hope to get - rarely happens though. Good for Justin Gimelstob this time (although Sampras may not agree and that next call for a practice partner may go to someone else).
From CNNSI: My date with Pete
When my phone rang last week, there was a familiar voice on the other end. That old sarcastic, condescending tone instantly revealed the identity of the great Pete Sampras. After catching up, he invited me to come and practice with him.
Pistol Pete and I have been frequent practice partners over the years, especially while he was contemplating retirement after his career-closing win at the 2002 U.S. Open. So my surprise wasn't with Sampras wanting to hit balls with me, but his desire to play at all.
Continue reading "Gimelstob Reports on Practice With Sampras" »
Take that, Tommy Haas.
From the AP: Even Sampras pays homage to Federer
All those comparisons between Roger Federer and Pete Sampras are right on the mark. Sampras himself says so.
"They're all very valid: Not only is he winning majors, but the way he's winning them - with pretty much ease. He's pretty much the favorite in every major for the rest of his career," Sampras said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press.
