In case you missed the news, Pete Sampras is making his first public appearance as a tennis player tomorrow evening, in an innovative context: his exhibition match at River Oaks in Houston, against U.S. backcourter Robby Ginepri, will be broadcast live - but only on the internet, at the USTA's own website.
The netcast will begin at 8:15 P.M. EST, with a pre-game show featuring interviews with both players. This is an interesting concept,although I fear that the match will alternate between looking like a slo-mo replay and a freeze-frame high speed series of still photos on own ancient laptop at home.
Pete did a conference call yesterday afternoon on this first foray back to the game. He's also going to play World Team Tennis this summer, but he isn't using the word "comeback". You'll be able to read the full text of the conference call at the ASAP website soon (if not already), but here are some highlights, with comments:
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I just want to say that I'm looking forward to playing again in front of people instead of my son, so I'm going to be a little more nervous. I’m excited to play Robby, who's a good, young American player. . .
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Does anyone else think this kind of a strange choice for a comeback exhibition? If Sampras loses, his reputation inevitably loses a little lustre in some quarters. If Ginepri loses, his confidence takes another huge hit - he got beat by guy who's on court for the first time in three years, most of which were spent nowhere near a tennis court or gym. And one of those two things certainly will happen.
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I've been hitting basically a little bit with Justin Gimelstob, when I first kind of started hitting some balls. I've been hitting with the UCLA men's team, some of their top players. They're not Robby's level, but it's the best I can find. I've been hitting on clay for the last couple days just to kind of get used to that. It won't be an easy match my first match out, being on clay. You know, I'm a little anxious, but I think I'm excited to get out there and hit a few balls for the people.
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Pete. Clay? I know, it's just supposed to be fun. . . but. . .clay?
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I do miss the serve and volley game, but there's not really anyone that serves and volleys naturally. You have big servers that might come in, but the art of serve and volleying is pretty much extinct. You have some guys that do a little bit of it, but across the board everyone stays back and just trades groundies. I miss the contrast. I miss one guy coming in and the other guy defending. I think that's the best tennis.
But that's just a sign of the times. It's just the kind of direction it was at Wimbledon the last couple years. The part of the court that's worn out is the baseline, not the net. So, you know, if I'd be playing today, I'd be licking my chops on grass.
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Now, Ginepri on grass. . .
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I've been probably hitting a couple hours a day probably four days a week, five days a week. I mean, I want to play well, and, you know, make sure my body holds up. I think I can get through one match. I'm not looking forward to how I'm going to feel the next day.
I've been in the gym. I've been running, do a little bit of lifting. I've been doing that for the past year. I'm not in the best tennis shape, but I'm in good enough shape to get through this match.
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Sounds like they'd better keep a trainer and doctor on hand; and stock up on the Tylenol!
On Sergi Bruguera's recent, Greg Rusedskian remark that Roger Federer is "10 times" better than Sampas ever was:
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I mean, everyone's got their opinion. The way Roger has been playing, the way he's dominating, you know, he looks very good. It's hard to say that he's the greatest player of all time. It's hard to compare, you know, this generation from, you know, Federer, myself, to Laver and those guys. No question Federer has the best game we've seen in a long time, but I felt like I did okay myself. Well, Sergi has been around, he knows the game, but we all have our different opinions.
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Nicely handled, Pete, but I know you're thinking: "And who exactly is Sergi Bruguera?"
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PETE SAMPRAS: Well, used the Federer racquet, a little bit bigger than what I had. Had a little more power, but the control is not as good, especially when I hit it off the frame.
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Note to Wilson: that makes two pretty good players who shank 'em with that stick.
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Well, as far as Federer, yes, I have just seen him play and how I would play him. I think with Roger, I think the problem with competition today is that I don't see anyone with a big enough weapon to really hurt him, like a real attacking player. I think Roger and everyone, they're just kind of staying back, and Roger is able to dictate and move well enough and dictate the ball anywhere he wants to because he moves so well. You know, against Roger, you just have to beat him. You know, you just have to, you know, serve well and attack him, be selective.
But I put myself on the court against him and see the game and see there's no one out there that has a big enough game, a big enough serve that can back it up and really put pressure on him. The bigger server, Roddick, you know, stays back. That's an uphill struggle for him. I think I would stick to my game and hopefully be good enough to beat him.
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Those are astute observations, and while I wouldn't want to underestimate The Mighty Fed, when was the last time anyone actually tried to smother and handcuff him, instead of duelling with him from the baseline?
Welcome back, Pete!