Still formidable in his way at age 37, Pete Sampras showed his share of game in a light and lively 76-minute exhibition match against Tommy Haas on evening one of the 2009 SAP Open.
With fans eager to see the 14-time Grand Slam in action, Sampras and Haas played a match filled with mutual respect, sparkling shotmaking and, yes, the easygoing atmosphere that makes these matches acutely less intense than the days when these two were locking horns around the world. Fair enough. Haas won the first set 7-6, Sampras the second 6-4 and then, in lieu of a third set, the two played a tiebreak that Haas won 12-10. It was a command performance of sorts for Haas, who had completed his first round match in the main event and stepped in for the exo after Sampras’ original opponent, James Blake, pulled out with an injury incurred earlier in his afternoon doubles match (Blake still plans to compete in the singles here).
But outcome meant little in this format. What was more engaging was to fitness the full retinue of Sampras’ strokes. As always, the headliner was his pinpoint serve. The finest delivery in tennis history, Sampras was still able to nab his share of corners in excess of 120 mph. Also on display were his familiar rapier running forehand and dozens of pinpoint volleys the likes of which are rarely seen in contemporary tennis.
“It’s a quick trip from my home in LA,” said Sampras right after the match. “To play a current guy is a challenge. It’s tough for me to move around. It’s fun, keeps me in shape. To be retired for six years and play decent tennis, it’s good for me. It still take a lot of pride in performing well.”
Though Sampras will play his share of exhibitions – including one next week in Memphis versus Lleyton Hewitt – most of his days are filled by spending time with his two children, playing poker, basketball and other forms of exercise. And with that, in the low-key manner that defined his career, the blue-jean clad Sampras slipped off into the night.
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