Sampras blow to Basel indoors
America's Pete Sampras has pulled out of next week's Swiss indoors tennis tournament in Basel, turning down the organisers' offer of a wild card for the event and seemingly ending his season after a shock defeat at the Stuttgart masters event last week.
An ATP spokesman confirmed Sampras’ decision on Sunday. The American’s withdrawal is the second blow to the Basel event in four days after fellow countryman André Agassi announced his withdrawal on Friday, citing fatigue.
Sampras had warned that if he did not play in Basel, he would be heading back to the United States and bypassing the Paris Open in a week’s time. The player’s decision effectively ends his season and his bid for a place at the Masters Cup next month in Sydney.
Sampras, who has not won a tournament since Wimbeldon last year, lost in Stuttgart on Friday in straight sets against qualifier Max Mirnyi of Belarus. It was the American’s first tournament since losing in the US Open final against Australian Lleyton Hewitt.
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