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Decision time nears for Sampras
With the 2003 season just around the corner, former world number one Pete Sampras says he’ll make a decision on retirement before the imminent birth of his first child. The man with the 14 Grand Slams has not played since dramatically winning the US Open in early September.
"There's a lot going on and I need to decide in the next couple of weeks,” he told the Los Angeles Times. “I've been in limbo for the last month, not avoiding it, but just not sure. It's all coming to terms with stopping."
The 31-year old California resident and wife, actress Bridgett Wilson are expecting their baby very soon.
Sampras continues to play his cards close to his chest.
"I've had moments of wanting to continue and I've had moments of stopping," he told the Times. "Either you do it all the way or you don't do it halfway."
Some observers believe Sampras might want to continue just to erase the humiliation of his 2002 Wimbledon defeat in the second round at the hands of Swiss qualifier George Bastl.
"In a romantic way, I would love to end it on a much better note than I did this year."
But if he does come back, it won’t just be for Wimbledon. "I won't play just for one tournament," he warned. "I'll play because I want to, because I enjoy playing, and go through the process and the challenges, not just for two weeks of the year.”
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If anyone is registered for the LA Times online, could you please post that report as well? Thanks
With the 2003 season just around the corner, former world number one Pete Sampras says he’ll make a decision on retirement before the imminent birth of his first child. The man with the 14 Grand Slams has not played since dramatically winning the US Open in early September.
"There's a lot going on and I need to decide in the next couple of weeks,” he told the Los Angeles Times. “I've been in limbo for the last month, not avoiding it, but just not sure. It's all coming to terms with stopping."
The 31-year old California resident and wife, actress Bridgett Wilson are expecting their baby very soon.
Sampras continues to play his cards close to his chest.
"I've had moments of wanting to continue and I've had moments of stopping," he told the Times. "Either you do it all the way or you don't do it halfway."
Some observers believe Sampras might want to continue just to erase the humiliation of his 2002 Wimbledon defeat in the second round at the hands of Swiss qualifier George Bastl.
"In a romantic way, I would love to end it on a much better note than I did this year."
But if he does come back, it won’t just be for Wimbledon. "I won't play just for one tournament," he warned. "I'll play because I want to, because I enjoy playing, and go through the process and the challenges, not just for two weeks of the year.”
=================
If anyone is registered for the LA Times online, could you please post that report as well? Thanks
