Sampras Beats Martin for Seniors Charlotte Title
Posted on October 1, 2007Pete Sampras defeated Todd Martin 6-3, 6-4 Sunday to win the Championships at The Palisades and claim his third tournament title for the year on the Outback Champions Series, a collection of tennis events around the world featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30. Sampras, in fact, is undefeated in 12 matches on the circuit since he ended his five-year hiatus from competitive tournament tennis in Boston last May in his debut event on the Outback Champions Series.
In addition to the $50,000 first prize paycheck for defeating Martin and going 3-0 in round-robin play, Sampras earned 800 Stanford Champions Ranking points that determines the year-end champion on the Outback Champions Series. Martin earned $32,000 and 600 Stanford Champions Ranking points for his runner-up showing. After five events on the 2007 Outback Champions Series, Martin remains in the No. 1 position with 2600 total points, followed by Sampras with 2400 points.
"I'd rather not play enough than play too much," said Sampras of his return to tennis after an ATP career that included a record 14 Grand Slam men's singles titles. "These events are competitive, fun and it's real tennis. There is prize money on the line and pride...It's nice to win. I've won the big things and it's still nice to go out and perform well."
Sampras, 36, defeated Martin in the finals of his two previous Outback Champions Series events in Boston and Athens, Greece, but his win over Martin in Charlotte was his only win over Martin of the three in straight sets. Despite the relatively routine match score, Sampras said he found Martin difficult to play on the slippery but fast clay court.
"Todd, on this court, was very tough to play," said Sampras. "Todd's got a game I still don't feel totally comfortable with. His serve bounces so high."
-- Outback Champions Series
In addition to the $50,000 first prize paycheck for defeating Martin and going 3-0 in round-robin play, Sampras earned 800 Stanford Champions Ranking points that determines the year-end champion on the Outback Champions Series. Martin earned $32,000 and 600 Stanford Champions Ranking points for his runner-up showing. After five events on the 2007 Outback Champions Series, Martin remains in the No. 1 position with 2600 total points, followed by Sampras with 2400 points.
"I'd rather not play enough than play too much," said Sampras of his return to tennis after an ATP career that included a record 14 Grand Slam men's singles titles. "These events are competitive, fun and it's real tennis. There is prize money on the line and pride...It's nice to win. I've won the big things and it's still nice to go out and perform well."
Sampras, 36, defeated Martin in the finals of his two previous Outback Champions Series events in Boston and Athens, Greece, but his win over Martin in Charlotte was his only win over Martin of the three in straight sets. Despite the relatively routine match score, Sampras said he found Martin difficult to play on the slippery but fast clay court.
"Todd, on this court, was very tough to play," said Sampras. "Todd's got a game I still don't feel totally comfortable with. His serve bounces so high."
-- Outback Champions Series