Post by TennisHack on May 16, 2003 16:56:50 GMT -5
Sampras out of Wimbledon, French Open
May 16, 2003
LONDON (AP) -- Pete Sampras is out of the French Open and Wimbledon, raising the possibility that one of the greatest tennis players ever is through with the sport.
French Open and Wimbledon officials said Friday they had received confirmation of Sampras' withdrawal. The ATP also confirmed the withdrawals.
Sampras has not played a match since a surprising title in the U.S. Open in September, a record 14th career Grand Slam singles championship.
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The withdrawals are the latest in a succession this season.
``Yes, for me not to be at Wimbledon, I guess that's big,'' Sampras told the Los Angeles Times on Thursday.
``I'm not 100 percent going to close the door,'' Sampras added. ``But I know what it takes to be competitive -- the training and preparation and the seven-day-a-week dedication -- and I'm just not there right now.''
His brother, Gus, told The Associated Press on Thursday he didn't know about 31-year-old Sampras' plans.
``He hadn't told me anything final,'' Gus Sampras said by telephone.
The clay-court French Open is the only Grand Slam singles he's failed to win. He has won Wimbledon seven times.
His 2000 title at the All England Club broke Roy Emerson's record for most Grand Slam singles titles. His 63-7 record at Wimbledon includes an eight-year stretch in which he lost only one match. He was knocked out in the second round last season.
Sampras has an impeccable resume, including a record 286 weeks at No. 1, 64 titles and a career match mark of 762-222 (a .774 winning percentage).
His victory at the U.S. Open came after a long dry spell. He entered that tournament with a 20-16 season record, no titles since July 2000, and was even written off by Greg Rusedski as ``a step and a half slow.''
After beating Andre Agassi in four sets in the final, Sampras stopped short of saying he would quit. But the Open's oldest champion since 1970 did sound as if he were thinking of leaving on a high note.
His wife gave birth to their first child in November, and the next month, Sampras said he wouldn't play in the Australian Open.
Updated on Friday, May 16, 2003 11:33 am EDT
May 16, 2003
LONDON (AP) -- Pete Sampras is out of the French Open and Wimbledon, raising the possibility that one of the greatest tennis players ever is through with the sport.
French Open and Wimbledon officials said Friday they had received confirmation of Sampras' withdrawal. The ATP also confirmed the withdrawals.
Sampras has not played a match since a surprising title in the U.S. Open in September, a record 14th career Grand Slam singles championship.
ADVERTISEMENT
The withdrawals are the latest in a succession this season.
``Yes, for me not to be at Wimbledon, I guess that's big,'' Sampras told the Los Angeles Times on Thursday.
``I'm not 100 percent going to close the door,'' Sampras added. ``But I know what it takes to be competitive -- the training and preparation and the seven-day-a-week dedication -- and I'm just not there right now.''
His brother, Gus, told The Associated Press on Thursday he didn't know about 31-year-old Sampras' plans.
``He hadn't told me anything final,'' Gus Sampras said by telephone.
The clay-court French Open is the only Grand Slam singles he's failed to win. He has won Wimbledon seven times.
His 2000 title at the All England Club broke Roy Emerson's record for most Grand Slam singles titles. His 63-7 record at Wimbledon includes an eight-year stretch in which he lost only one match. He was knocked out in the second round last season.
Sampras has an impeccable resume, including a record 286 weeks at No. 1, 64 titles and a career match mark of 762-222 (a .774 winning percentage).
His victory at the U.S. Open came after a long dry spell. He entered that tournament with a 20-16 season record, no titles since July 2000, and was even written off by Greg Rusedski as ``a step and a half slow.''
After beating Andre Agassi in four sets in the final, Sampras stopped short of saying he would quit. But the Open's oldest champion since 1970 did sound as if he were thinking of leaving on a high note.
His wife gave birth to their first child in November, and the next month, Sampras said he wouldn't play in the Australian Open.
Updated on Friday, May 16, 2003 11:33 am EDT
