Tennis legend Pete Sampras on Wednesday categorically ruled out making a Wimbledon comeback this year, but admitted he was curious about how he would perform if he did stage a return.
”I’m not doing it,” the 36-year-old told reporters in Kuala Lumpur in a telephone interview from Los Angeles.
”I’m curious, but it’s just out of curiosity as to how I would compete if I played. People ask me all the time but it is not going to happen and that is really the end of it.”
Sampras won 14 Grand Slam titles during his career, including seven at the All England club.
He returned to competition earlier this month for the first time since retiring five years ago, defeating Todd Martin in the final of the over-30s Champions Cup of Boston.
Last week, tennis icon John McEnroe advised Sampras to make a one-off return to Wimbledon, saying that he would not hesitate to seed him in the top five.
Citing personal experience, McEnroe said Sampras still had the game to challenge the top players after losing to him in Boston.
Sampras, who has been hitting with the likes of reigning four-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer and Germany’s Tommy Haas, will meet Federer in an exhibition match in November during the inaugural Malaysian Open. — Sapa-AFP