Skip navigation

Sampras, Federer lined up to play ‘great tennis’

World No. 1 ‘so excited’ for three exhibition matches in November in Asia

Image: Pete Sampras
Pete Sampras retired from professional tennis in 2002.
Elise Amendola / AP
Slideshow
  Record performances
Take a look at players who have won and put themselves in the record books at the U.S. Open.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
The Championships - Wimbledon 2009 Day Thirteen
  Career highlights
Take a look back at key moments in Roger Federer's tennis career.

NBCSports.com

Off the court
US Open Day 15
Getty Images
  Celebrity tennis fans
A look at some well-known fans in the world of tennis.
Britain's Andy Murray gestures as he pla
AFP/Getty Images
  Who's hot on Twitter?
Check out which of your favorite athletes have the best pages and most followers!
17th Annual ESPY Awards - Backstage And Audience
Getty Images for ESPY
  Stylin' sisters
Check out the fashion choices Venus and Serena Williams made on and off the court.
  Love matches
Take a look at a number of the players who found love -- at least temporarily -- with fellow tennis competitors.
Slide show
Image: AEK Athens' Nemeth reacts after a Europa League soccer match against BATE Borisov in Athens
  Week in Sports Pictures
Flying on the hardwood, racing on the rink, getting physical on the gridiron, and much more.

more photos

updated 8:54 p.m. ET May 23, 2007

HONG KONG - Pete Sampras will play top-ranked Roger Federer in three exhibition matches throughout Asia in November.

Sampras, who retired in 2002, will challenge Federer on Nov. 22 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Two days later, they will play at the Chinese gambling enclave of Macau. The location for the third match on Nov. 20 has not been determined.

“I am so excited to play Pete and I am really looking forward to visiting Malaysia for the first time,” Federer said. “There is no doubt that we will play some great tennis.”

Story continues below ↓
advertisement | your ad here

The exhibitions originated after Sampras invited Federer to practice at his home in Los Angeles as part of Federer’s preparations for the Indian Wells tournament in March.

“Obviously he’s a great player, but I felt like I didn’t embarrass myself out there,” Sampras said. “I feel like I can hold my own.”

The 35-year-old Sampras said his strategy for beating Federer, who is 10 years younger, is to stay aggressive.

“Roger’s game doesn’t have many cracks,” Sampras said. “It’s one of those sorts of matchups where I just need to overwhelm him with some power and try to come in and hopefully serve well.”

In their only ATP matchup, Federer beat Sampras 7-6 (7), 5-7, 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-5 in the round of 16 at Wimbledon in 2001.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sponsored links