Pulled this from another board. I wont be surprised if we hear an announcement of returning to the actual tour. Anyway I am not going to miss this. Its in Boston.
:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

Sampras to play in over-30 Champions Series tourney

Pete Sampras will play tournament tennis for the first time since 2002, competing on a tour for players over 30, The Associated Press has learned.

Sampras' Outback Champions Series debut, which will come May 2-6 at Boston University's Agganis Arena, is to be announced formally Tuesday. The 35-year-old Sampras will appear in at least one other event on the tour in 2007.

"This is kind of my first dive into the waters, so to speak, to see how I feel and play a match I really want to win," Sampras, owner of a record 14 Grand Slam singles titles, said in a telephone interview with the AP.


"I still love the sport -- I practice two, three times a week -- but I don't miss the grind. This is a time to catch up with old competitors, old friends, and see if I still have a few things left in the bag."
-- Pete Sampras


"I still love the sport -- I practice two, three times a week -- but I don't miss the grind. This is a time to catch up with old competitors, old friends, and see if I still have a few things left in the bag," he said.

It's the latest step in a gradual return to a sport Sampras dominated for the better part of a decade, then pretty much disappeared from after winning his last match, against Andre Agassi in the U.S. Open final in September 2002.

He didn't announce his retirement until a year later, then never really re-emerged until playing exhibitions and World Team Tennis in 2006. But those didn't get his competitive juices flowing the way he expects the senior events will.

"The stakes are a little bit higher playing in a tournament and against some former greats," Sampras said. "There's a sense of satisfaction in that. Not like it used to be, but you want to win and play well."

John McEnroe and series co-founder Jim Courier also will be in the eight-man field in Boston, where there will be $142,000 in prize money. Michael Chang, Goran Ivanisevic and Mats Wilander are other major champions who have participated in the Outback Champions Series, which is entering its second full season. To qualify, a player must have reached a Grand Slam singles final, been ranked in the top five, or played singles on a Davis Cup championship team.

Landing Sampras is a coup for Courier, who began discussing the series with his former Davis Cup teammate more than a year ago.

"Pete's got a great connection with tennis fans in this country. People will enjoy seeing Pete really lace it up and go for it with his 'A' game," Courier said. "Exhibitions are all fine and well and they definitely have their place. Tournament tennis is different. The competitive aspect will make it exciting for everybody, including Pete."

Sampras fleetingly considered making a comeback to elite tennis, perhaps for a final appearance at Wimbledon (his last match there, a second-round loss to 145th-ranked George Bastl in 2002, was "as low as I've been on a tennis court," Sampras said).

He made it clear, though, that won't happen.

"It's crossed my mind when I watch Wimbledon. I miss it. I kind of wonder what I would do today there, especially with the game changing and everyone staying back on the grass there. I kind of lick my chops," Sampras said. "But I won't play for one tournament, and I won't play, period. It was something that just crossed my mind -- that's the competitive guy in me. But it's not realistic for me to do it again."

He also sees no reason to add to a legacy that includes seven titles at Wimbledon, five at the U.S. Open and two at the Australian Open, plus a record 286 weeks ranked No. 1. He'll be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in July.

"I just played to win. I didn't play for the limelight. It always was about the titles. Some [come out of retirement] because they want the limelight or they want the attention or they're bored or they have something left to prove to themselves," Sampras said. "I don't have anything left to prove to myself."

Chet - without wishing to trample on your celebration, did you actually read down to the last 5 paragraphs?

Nice to see him back though...

roflmao

No seriously chet. DID you? Good to see that Sampras has the sense NOT to return. Do we honestly want to see this great player embarass himself? I think not.

Meanwhile the score is...

chet 0 - 1 chet

Taken apart by your own "evidence". Even by your standards that is a bit bad.

I never thought Sampras would come out of retirement for this kind of stuff, but it's great news that he has and I hope he will come to the Albert hall in Dec so as I can see how he's playing. Not great news for Mac though, Pete's only 35 and the greatest Serve and volleyer of all time, so how will poor Mac beat him?

What will Chet do if the great Paul Haarhuis beats Sampras?

Dirty game could be an option roflmao roflmao : Out it was out!!! roflmao roflmao

Even when hawkeye says its in? ;) roflmao

Dirty game is Dirty game Big Al :rolleyes: ...John: Stupid Crap Machine...I was right you wrong...The point is mine...

:yikes: John will kill the hawkeye :yikes: roflmao roflmao

roflmao

I love Mac but it was hilarious when they had hawkeye in the Albert Hall event and he kept getting it wrong.

I can just hear him telling hte Umpire what to do with the machine roflmao

roflmao

yeah so can I !

If anyone had seen that exhibition between Pete and Roddick last year immediately after the US Open, you'd know how good Pete still is. The match started on a lighthearted note but after two games it got very serious.
The end result was that Pete walloped Roddick 6-4, 6-1 or something.

I'm positive he's going to win this tournament without even letting the opponent win more than three games in a set.

Yes, but they were sharing the court with Anna Kournikova and Elton John at the time!

But more seriously, why does it matter to you if Sampras at 35 can beat McEnroe at 48 in straight sets? What does it prove?

No. they played a singles match at the end and Pete whipped Roddick. It proves that Pete is still way better than Roddick. If he returns to the tour, he would definitely be in the top 5 and maybe even challenge for the no.1 spot.

There needs to be an XO between Sampras and Federer.

And as usual Chet is displaying here all his dishonesty... roflmao roflmao

The result was 5-3 5-3 for Sampras details here

A very competitive match for sure...Ummm..Wait Pete gave 6 games to AROD in two sets match...ops...I know someone who was able to give only 6 games to AROD but in three sets and during an AO semi :yikes: ...Who is this guy??? roflmao roflmao

Tennis Veritas.

I said 6-4, 6-1 or something. Didnt know the exact score but knew that it was a drubbing. Roddick's form at USO was better than this year's AO (matches against Federer at both places proved that). But the point is that Roddick tried really hard and still couldn't beat Sampras. That shows that Pete at 35 is still a force to reckon with.

Particularly when pitted against a 48 year old. Mouthwatering prospect ...

But:

1. He will not come back because he is smart enough, i.e. as you posted:

"It's crossed my mind when I watch Wimbledon. I miss it. I kind of wonder what I would do today there, especially with the game changing and everyone staying back on the grass there. I kind of lick my chops," Sampras said. "But I won't play for one tournament, and I won't play, period. It was something that just crossed my mind -- that's the competitive guy in me. But it's not realistic for me to do it again."

He also sees no reason to add to a legacy that includes seven titles at Wimbledon, five at the U.S. Open and two at the Australian Open, plus a record 286 weeks ranked No. 1. He'll be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in July.

"I just played to win. I didn't play for the limelight. It always was about the titles. Some [come out of retirement] because they want the limelight or they want the attention or they're bored or they have something left to prove to themselves," Sampras said. "I don't have anything left to prove to myself".

2. Pete is the past FED is the present and it is a great present: You hate him, you do not like his Tennis , take a walk for a couple of years...Or do you prefer to do as last time during the USO and screaming during FED second serve at the USO? And you are telling us that you are a fan of Tennis :bs: Given your behaviour your are definitely not a Tennis fan :ban:

If it makes you feel any better, I got a very bad thorat infection and was sick for a week after that James Blake match at USO.

Chet - this is simply self-delusion.

OK - Sampras might go back on the words he has spoken in the very article you posted, and come back to the tour. He might even win matches here and there. But to suggest he'd be definitely in the Top 5, or even challenging for #1 is just demented.

It's lucky that Sampras has more regard for his legacy, than some of his fans who seem to be gagging for him to get humiliated on the tour by the Bastl's of 2007. The end to the guys main tour career was a real fairytale. It's a shame that some people would love to turn it into a particularly grisly James Herbert novel instead.

Again I ask you - did you actually read to the end of the article you posted?

Yes, because clearly the Andy Roddick that was dead on his feet by the 4th set of the US Open final, was being utterly competitive in a charity exhibition match days later.

Did you actually see this match that you didn't know the score of? Or are you just reporting second hand (or perhaps inventing) that it was a drubbing?

Perhaps he wasn't trying very hard to make Anna Kournikova feel sorry for him :D

Outstanding research chet.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writ...erer/index.html

Yes, indeed it was excellent research by Chet. Shame his conclusions were a pile of poo, completely contradicted by the evidence of the article.

Incidentally, the Gimelstob article you quote doesn't really support Chet's conclusions either. I presume you missed the paragraph:

"Now let me clarify. I'm not saying Sampras could hold up to the physical rigors of tour life, or even a best-of-five-set match. But what I am saying is that, in a best-of-three scenario, he is as good as anyone in the world right now, except for perhaps a younger version of himself -- also known as Roger Federer."

or the bit that says

"All this being said, don't hold your breathe for some grand comeback at Wimbledon or anywhere else, for that matter.

Would Pete like to take his chances against Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon? You bet. But does he want to deal with the life of a professional tennis player again? Definitely not. And who could blame him?"

So essentially you can summarise Gimelstob's thoughts as "Sampras is playing awfully well in practice right now. He might be able to win some matches on the tour, but I doubt he could hold up to the physical demands of the tour, or cope with 5-set matches"

That seems to be pretty much what the rest of us have been saying on the matter anyway - thanks very much for finding the evidence to back us up Wise.

Latest news on Sampras..Reuters Released a last interview with him him, i.e.LOS ANGELES, Jan 30 (Reuters):

- Pete Sampras thinks he could have held his own against Roger Federer but conceded on Tuesday that the Swiss master is poised to smash his record of 14 grand slam titles.
Sampras, who retired after winning the 2002 U.S. Open, considered what the result might have been had the two giants of men's tennis met in their prime.

"I don't think one guy would have dominated the other," said the American during a teleconference to announce his return to tournament tennis, playing a limited number of events on a tour for over-30 players.

"I think our games are pretty similar. It would have been a great clash to see us in our prime. Roger is doing what I never did; dominate the way he is. He's lost five matches in two years, that's unheard of.

"But I feel like my game is too big to be dominated by someone. When my game was on, my serve was on, I felt I was tough to beat. I felt unbeatable. (quite arrogant BTW) roflmao "

[...]

"I thought it would take longer than seven or eight years," said the 35-year-old Sampras. "I don't seen anyone pushing him so I could see him winning 17, 18, 19 majors. He has 10 already and he's in the middle of his career.

"He just came along at the right time and is playing tremendous tennis and I don't see him stopping now."

NO COMEBACK

Sampras also believes Federer is capable of achieving a success that eluded him by winning on the red clay of Roland Garros.

The Swiss world number one needs the French Open to complete his set and become only the third player to hold all four majors at once.

"I think he can because he grew up playing on clay and he's come close the last two years," said Sampras. "I really believe he can win there.

"I'm a fan, of his game, his temperament, how he handles himself on and off the court. I marvel at things he's able to do," he added.

The two players clashed just once in their careers, with the Swiss prevailing. There will be no re-match.
"When we retire we all have thoughts of playing again but my playing days are over on the ATP Tour," admitted the seven-time Wimbledon champion. "It's a lot of work, a whole different lifestyle I'm done with.
"I have been hitting the ball pretty well for the past six months and still feel that I can maybe compete against some of the guys. But to think about coming out of retirement is something far-fetched."

Ciao :whistle:

I feel quite priveleged to have been able to watch both Pete and Roger during my time of watching tennis.

We should cherish the memories that these guys give us instead of always bickering about them.

Well said. I'll second this.

More news on the maestro's return..

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/tenn...s.ap/index.html

I have a huge respect for Sampras, therefore seeing him attempting to regain the Wimbledon title would be embarrassing for all involved: him, his fans and probably for Federer.
It's great you're getting to see Sampras play tennis again...but I'd give up the fantastical ideas of him taking the #1 title, or #2 title etc etc...

Looks like John McEnroe disagrees with you, Ms. Less:

"I almost in a way wish he (Sampras) came back and played regularly, I know he sort of in a way wants to preserve what he's already done. But no one can take that away. I know he's right. He can handle these guys but that's his call."

I sort of agree with McEnroe there, but I don't think he's saying that Sampras would make it back to No. 1 or 2. I think Pete could still hold his own against players of today, but I don't think he would be the best, any more so than he was the last two or three years before his retirement. But I don't think he would embarrass himself, if he chose to return to the tour.

John McEnroe is a big fan of Pete. It's nice to have some talk in the tennis world that isn't about Federer for a change :yawn:

I remember at the USO in 2006 I think it was, they were showing the men's 2002 final due to a rain delay and John McEnroe said it was nice to see Pete again, it's all Roger, Roger, Roger these days, but it's easy to forget just how good Pete was.

I think I agree with JMac :ok:

If you look at the quote in context, McEnroe seems to be saying he wishes Sampras would play regularly in the champions events. Admittedly it could be interpreted differently.

If you look at the others who try to come back such as Scud and Kuerten who certainly do not have Sampras's record but were at the top more recently than Sampras , they simply are nowhere to be seen in the top 50/100. And on the other side you have a guy like Paul Haaruis giving the Rios and Ivanisevic some beating because he is simply fitter.

My take on this is regardless of how good they have been, once they lose the edge or the little extra that took them to the top, they simply become "ordinary" or more precisely belong to that wide pyramid base that becomes really tough only at the very top (top 100).

people forget that even at their best, with a young and focus mind and legs, those guys (including Sampras) had plenty of closes matches. Once you lose those little extras....down they go. This is what I liked about Borg. he understood it....could not bear it (sadly) and left.

This may be a good argument against those who say Sampras would embarrass himself and damage his legacy, if the attempted to come back, because Borg did attempt a comeback, which was a rather embarrassing failure. And yet, that is not really what people most remember about him.

yes Borg tried to come back but clearly he never believed in it himself. Looked like a failed marketing coup more than anything.

Another article on a Federer-Sampras XO being held (or not)..

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writ...lbag/index.html

Interesting article Chet - states quite clearly that he's coming back to play the Boston event to see how it goes, before commiting to any more seniors events, and includes the line "Sampras said he won't return to the regular tennis tour "

So why then are you still persisting with the fantasy that he's going to be storming to the Wimbledon title in July? Is Sampras lying?

Andy.
Pete is not lying but is a little hesistant about making assertive statements on a comeback. I personally think he is going to wipe the floor against any opponent in the Outback series in May and not lose more than 2 games in any set.
This would definitely make Pete change his mind about returning to the regular ATP tour and give one more shot at Wimbledon in July.

Lets hope that he will.

Chetanpv, in view of your habit of spamming other message boards with stuff you patently don't believe, I'm probably making a mistake by responding to this ...

but seriously, supposing Sampras beats 48 year old McEnroe 6-2, 6-2, 43 year old Wilander 6-2, 6-2, 37 year old Courier 6-2, 6-2, 42 year old Pat Cash 6-2, 6-2 etc. etc., why on earth would that encourage him to make a comeback against people half that age?

You put your finger on it Nick.

Perhaps Chet could provide an answer?

If we were ten years down the line and it was Federer allegedly contemplating a comeback I've no doubt that he'd be getting condemned for disgusting arrogance at thinking he could compete with guys much younger than him.

Chet - take my advice, as despite everything it's sincerely meant. Go to Boston and watch your hero in the seniors event. Enjoy watching him play again, but please abandon this Wimbledon fantasy. Either you don't believe it yourself and are at the wind-up (most likely) or you in for a crushing disappointment come late June.