By HOWARD FENDRICH, AP Sports Writer
Pete Sampras is returning to the tennis court, signing up for the World Team Tennis Pro League more than three years after his last match.
"This is more about just getting myself a little busier and focused on something I used to be good at," Sampras said in a telephone interview ahead of Wednesday's announcement by the league. "It's time this year to do a little more. Last year, I was kind of floating along."
Sampras' last professional match was the 2002 U.S. Open final, when he beat longtime rival Andre Agassi for his record 14th Grand Slam title. Sampras held a news conference a year later at the U.S. Open to say he was retiring.
As much as he says he's looking forward to playing in the WTT, he made one thing quite clear: Don't call it a comeback.
"I miss playing the game. I miss the majors. I miss competing. But to play at the level I used to play is a whole other animal. I've done that, and I know what it takes," he told the AP. "Me playing a little tennis this year is something I can control; there isn't any pressure. I can relax and have a little fun. Coming back is not something that crossed my mind."
1 comment:
Sampras is one of my favorite athletes, always classy. Winning the US Open in his last match was inspiring - although his match versus Agassi the year before was better.
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