Will Pete Sampras ever become a tennis commentator?

Pete Sampras at an Aug. 10 press conference in Toronto. (photo by Kwai Chan / Meniscus Magazine)

That was the question Meniscus Magazine posed to Pete Sampras himself at the 2013 Rogers Cup in Toronto, where the tennis legend – along with fellow American greats Jim Courier and John McEnroe – was in town to play in a series of exhibition matches at Rexall Centre.  His response?

Sampras: Not really.  These guys do a great job.  I enjoy being home.  Traveling is not something I really want to do.  So I think John and Jim are pretty much set in stone at the majors, and I enjoy listening to them.  They do a really good job and I’m not sure if that’s something I want to do.

Courier: He just likes sitting at home and listening to the best.

Sampras: There’s so many commentators, you know, it’s incredible.

[Courier and McEnroe grin wryly while the rest of the audience laughs.]

Sampras: My taste…I like listening to the guys that have actually played rather than sort of report on the extra stuff.  You know, these two guys next to me are pretty solid.

Courier: Check’s in the mail.

Video: Pete Sampras on becoming a broadcaster – 2013 Rogers Cup
interview by Kwai Chan / Meniscus Magazine; video by Mai D. Chan / Meniscus Magazine

Also during that same press conference, Courier, Sampras and McEnroe weighed in on what has become a recurring theme whenever they face reporters: the “Big Four” of Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.  Sampras likes Murray’s chances at the U.S. Open, whereas Courier feels that the Brit’s weakness compared to the others remains the clay courts:

Video: Courier, Sampras, McEnroe talk about the ATP’s “Big Four” – 2013 Rogers Cup
video by Mai D. Chan / Meniscus Magazine

Jim Courier, Pete Sampras and John McEnroe were in Toronto to play some exhibition matches at the 2013 Rogers Cup. (photo by Kwai Chan / Meniscus Magazine)