Washington, Sep 26 (Xinhua) Five years after bidding adieu to professional tennis, former world number one Pete Sampras will play a senior tour event on clay, a surface that haunted him throughout his record-breaking career.
“I didn’t think I’d ever play on clay again,” Sampras said. “But here I am.”
Sampras faces Mikael Pernfors Wednesday to open the tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina, in what is the third and final event of the year for Sampras in the Outback Champions Series.
And while the surface is green clay, a bit quicker than the red dirt that always stymied Sampras at the French Open, it reminds him of the one trophy missing from a brilliant career.
He decided to return on a limited basis this year on the senior circuit formed by former rival Jim Courier.
Sampras committed to play in Boston, Athens and Charlotte, and has enjoyed it so much he’s agreed to play a handful of exhibitions, including a November match in Malaysia against top-ranked Roger Federer.