THE SCOOP: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY, 22

Sampras pulls out of brother's tournament
Is retirement imminent?

By Matthew Cronin
tennisreporters.net

Susan Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

Fourteen-time Grand Slam champion Pete Sampras continued his flirtation with retirement, pulling out of Franklin Templeton Classic in Scottsdale, Ariz. (March 3-9) on Friday.

This is Sampras' second such pull out of the year. Last week, he pulled out of the San Jose tournament, saying he was insufficiently prepared to rejoin the tour.

His brother, Scottsdale tournament director Gus, sounded more than a little disappointed when he spoke to tr. Net and isn't sure whether Pete will return at Indian Wells (March 10-16) – or ever.

"I talked to Pete this morning and he's still trying to figure out whether it makes sense to continue on," said Gus. "He said he doesn't want to retire right now and maybe have to come out of retirement again. He's just not sure."

Fellow player Justin Gimelstob said that he has been hitting with Sampras in LA and that Pete is striking the ball well, but Gus said that Pete hasn't found his "A" game yet.

"He's practicing and conditioning, but he doesn't feel like his game is at the level he wants it to be to compete," Gus said. "He feels like he needs to practice more, but where that's going to lead,  I don't know."

Sampras hasn't played a tournament since winning the US Open in September and was contemplating retirement in the fall. His wife, actress Bridgette Wilson, gave birth to the couple's first son, Christian, in December. Gus said he'd like to see his younger brother play on.

Sampras has been replaced in the Scottsdale draw by No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt.

"It was a double whammy for me," Gus said. "I'm disappointed because our event lost a great player, but I'm also upset as his brother, because I believe he has the potential to do great things again. But he has to decide that himself."

Hewitt hasn't played a regular tournament since being upset in the fourth round of the Australian Open by Younes El Aynaoui.  No. 2-ranked Andre Agassi is also scheduled to play Scottsdale.