Pete Sampras will face fellow former World No.1 Thomas Muster in the round-robin stages of his debut event on the BlackRock Tour of Champions in Sao Paulo, Brazil this week.
The American will face Muster on Saturday, with earlier clashes against home-favourite Fernando Meligeni and Marc-Kevin Goellner in Group Thomaz Koch.
Pete Sampras explains why he wants to be courtside when Roger Federer breaks his Grand Slam record.
The event marks the first trip Sampras has ever made to South America, but so far, he likes what he sees.
“I have only been here only for a day, but as far as I can see, Sao Paulo is a beautiful big city,” said Sampras.
“I am looking forward to the event and to the competition. Hopefully we will have a full house. I have heard the crowd here is very enthusiastic. I will probably be a little rusty in the first couple of matches, because I injured my back some weeks ago, but I can see myself as one of the favorites.”
In Group Carlos Kirmayr, another former World No.1, Marcelo Rios, will take on Russia’s Andei Cherkasov, Brazilian Jaime Oncins and Peru’s Jaime Yzaga.
SAMPRAS MAKES FEDERER REVELATION ON EVE OF BLACKROCK DEBUT
As he prepared to make his debut on the BlackRock Tour of Champions in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Thursday, Pete Sampras revealed that he would like to be present when Roger Federer finally breaks his record of 14 career Grand Slam titles.
In an exclusive video interview on BlackRockTourOfChampions.com, Sampras promised Federer that he would be there if and when the moment comes.
“There is a burning desire in Roger to break my record, and when he does it I would like to be there,” said Sampras.
“I said him to just make sure it’s in New York or London! Australia is a long way to go! If it worked out like that, I would fly there. I would just let him enjoy it as it’s his moment but (I would want to be there) just to respect the record and what he was able to do and to just say ‘congratulations’.” To see the video interview, click here.
Sampras has not returned to Wimbledon since he last played there in 2002. While he would go anywhere that Federer breaks his record of 14 Grand Slam titles, his first choice would be to see the Swiss win his 15th major tournament at Wimbledon next year.
“I think if I were to step back on that court at Wimbledon it would bring up a lot of emotion, just because of what the place meant to me and how big it was to the sport of tennis. It was such an important place to me as an athlete, it was our Superbowl. It had such a big effect on me as a kid and seeing Borg and McEnroe play and seeing Becker win there at 17 and 18, it had a huge effect on me. Now, at 36 years old, to go back there with my kids one day would be very emotional. As much as I’m a full-blooded American and I love the US Open, there’s just a certain romance that I’ve always had with Wimbledon. I didn’t always express it with words but I think internally I just felt a great connection with the place, the court and the arena. I felt like that was what tennis was all about for me and I look forward to going back and enjoying that experience.”
And, he is not concerned about losing the record that he worked so hard to post.
“I jokingly tell Roger that he could have let me enjoy the record for a few more years!” said Sampras.
“But, I am at peace with it because I did everything that I could in my generation. I have so much respect for Roger as a player and as a person. He’s a great guy. Getting to know him a little bit, we hung out quite a bit in Asia and travelled together, and we got along really well. We both have a dry sense of humour and there’s a side to Roger that I didn’t really know. All I knew was that he was a really nice person but there’s an out-going side that people don’t really see. He’s funny, he’s articulate, he likes to tell stories. I have respect not just for his game but for the way he carries himself on and off the court. He’s a great role model for kids all around the world. He’s great with sponsors, the media, the kids, the tournaments. When you’re the best player in the world there’s a lot asked of you and I think I tended to keep everyone at a distance whereas I think he’s a little more open about it and a little more embracing. Just the fact that we get along great and I respect him is the reason I’d want to be there to see him break the record.”
He also dismissed those that have suggested that Federer is on the decline.
“He’s created this monster of winning so many tournaments and so many majors and doing it with ease,” said Sampras.
“As great as Roger is he’s going to have his losses and his bad days, it’s just human nature to go through some lulls. The media need a story and something to grab onto, like he’s lost his edge. He hasn’t lost his edge. If he goes through the next few months and he’s losing a lot and he doesn’t contend for tournaments then maybe but I don’t see that happening. I think when push comes to shove in the majors, he’s still the guy that’s most likely to win them. He‘s lost a couple and if anything that’ll do him some good, it’ll get him going and fired up. He’ll be just fine.”
Group Thomaz Koch
Pete Sampras
Thomas Muster
Marc Goellner
Fernando Meligeni
Group Carlos Kirmayr
Jaime Yzaga
Marcelo Rios
Andrei Cherkasov
Jaime Oncins
ORDER OF PLAY, THURSDAY 19TH JUNE, 2008
17h00
Marc Goellner vs. Thomas Muster
18h30
Jaime Yzaga vs. Jaime Oncins
20h00
Marcelo Rios vs. Andrei Cherkasov
21h30
Pete Sampras vs. Fernando Meligeni
