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Another postponement Sampras won't come back at Clay Court ChampionshipsPosted: Wednesday April 09, 2003 11:58 PMHOUSTON (AP) -- Pete Sampras has decided the upcoming U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships isn't the right time for him to return to competition. The 31-year-old Sampras withdrew Tuesday from the tournament set to begin April 21 at Westside Tennis Club in Houston. Sampras hasn't played since winning the U.S. Open in September for a record 14th Grand Slam singles title. He has entered a number of tournaments in the past two months, only to withdraw. Tournament promoter Jim McIngvale said Sampras called him Tuesday night, saying it just wasn't the right time for him to return. "Pete told me he wasn't up to playing here," McIngvale said in an interview Wednesday with Houston television station KRIV. "He said he didn't want to do a diisservice to the tournament or to himself." "It's a disappointment, but at the same time, I respect his decision," McIngvale told the Houston Chronicle in its online editions Wednesday. Andre Agassi, off to a 17-1 start this year, and two-time defending champion Andy Roddick are expected to play. Only a day after withdrawing from the Clay Court Championships, Sampras requested and was granted a wild card for the Wimbledon warmup tournament at Queens Club. The tournament follows the French Open and is the year's first on grass. U.S. Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe said Wednesday he doesn't believe Sampras will play in any clay events this year, the Chronicle reported. "I'd be surprised," McEnroe said. "I spoke to him when I was out at Indian Wells. My feeling was that the only thing that could possibly happen is that he'll play Queens and Wimbledon. I mean, that's my feeling." |
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