I GSA's. Open final will be on Jon Katz the Bay Area and 5 o'clock gun nest Sunday Fernando that Verdasco trying to win it again Andy Roddick not in town. That was the final match up an average -- it is guy Belmont face. Four is going to open the week long extravaganza by playing it. An exhibition with the the greatest players of all signed -- fourteen time Grand Slam champion is our chronicle conversation we bring in the great Pete Sampras from HP pavilion Pete welcome back. To the Bay Area first of all the -- -- its approach a premise that talk you know I'm not. Great thorny issue requiring a moment ago. -- night it's her Pappas and I thought it was great but. -- -- It's going well pop up PA PA at 400% of tell you that you Isley Brothers Italians and drinks rolled etc. What what what you know Trinidad. Certainly has got my attention in this matchup tonight is at age thirty nagging gonna play much faces just 24. By years of age other sports this might happen in golf but you're the only sport where -- great like yourself is gonna come out of retirement for a night and stage an exhibition match -- I know you wanna perform well you know wanna show anything bad in public so how much do you do you port got to get set before a match like tonight. You know I I Crystal City. You know reasonably fit. -- -- you know a few days a week. But it's it's not he's I'm almost forty my body doesn't move quite as members are used to be. Not quite as sharp and -- play tonight is not easy to play in what feels who's who's a great player numb sort of used to be great but now owns a little older almost forty so it's it's still fun for me I enjoy the challenge. I'm a one through your opponent that show -- hopefully I can I can play well. My mind facing -- yet to win a major he's kind of a tall gangly guys that are. Is -- a difficult matchup for you to go against a guy who has his skill set that is a little bit out of their own little bit. You know it is difficult he returns well he's long lanky he moves great he serves big. He's I don't know I think he's about twelve world so it's it's a tough matchup in I'm gonna need to serve well against the net. But it's it's a tough it's a tough road play in the -- and I got my hands full. -- -- -- -- Fort Hood paint did you play these kind of exhibitions against the older grades went when you're coming up I know you met Roger labored a very. A young age I think you're eleven years of age you guys have very similar style to serve and volley game that was a huge fan of the rocket rod -- did you did you play the greats like rod labor when they were later in their careers. You know not really you know -- with -- I was a kid. You know little bit with Lendl and McEnroe pledged to but -- not a lot you know when I was playing. You know back when I didn't I didn't clearly. A ton of exhibitions. -- and now that I'm retired I've got some time on my hands I can come up and play here. But but I'm looking forward to have always enjoyed playing the San Jose. It's a great court it's a great arena so we'll see what happens tonight. Andy Roddick as we mentioned will not be at the HP tournament at this week PSA field but at the HP pavilion was. Last week I don't wanna get your thoughts overall on the state of American tennis -- being the greatest winner in history of -- American tennis and -- -- what wears of that right now he went when you look at the landscape so many of the great players in the world are not American born. Where are we as far as men's tennis right now feet. You know I think I think we're pretty good -- rob is he not where we wanna be -- look at the game today you think of Djokovic can think of Roger's thinking of a Nadal. And Murray and you know. And on -- erotic. -- James Blake McCrary they're just not quite FL level and you know knowing the American fans know the American Media we expect Wimbledon champions we expect guys to be number one of the world and the reality is that we just have a group of players in the top of the game that are just sort of unbeatable. And you know I think in all fairness to Roddick and those guys it's it's tough it's very tough to to see what happened in the ninety's with myself and Andre and Jim. If -- -- duplicate that. Every ten years is very difficult so. You know it's so we're in good shape we're not. In Indian you know and in the top of the game but I think. And hopefully the next 51015 years we can we can get a group of guys that sort of threat. You know Roger and those guys but. -- -- When you're tired you're the most slams and anybody history with fourteen and -- Rodgers got -- sixteen -- You played him right at the end of your career that -- -- 31 years of age you Wimbledon you lost to Milwaukee was nineteen coming up. Do you regret that that it wasn't like you know we'll or get. And McEnroe Borg and Connors McEnroe and Connors where where you guys were contemporaries in you and Federer could have played. Head to head and had those great matches that those other guys had. I think would be fantastic -- Udoka and Roger my prime. If this thing didn't it didn't happen. He was -- younger. It's unfortunate he's a great plays a great guy. And then we just sort of missed each other to and it's sort of the way it goes in tennis when I was coming up to you hadn't backed away and only he's being so. It's just the way it goes in the sport it's too bad. But you know mothers to be fair and Henman Nadal. But would have been wouldn't wanna play in these guys. Your big rival during your career Andre Agassi of course you guys played 34 times that you were able to be in the but twenty I don't wanna ask last time you were in town a few weeks or even months I think after it was yesterday you got to play in an exhibition match and they. Had you guys Mike and I was a little exchange there where he questioned how much you tip at restaurants and such it seemed like that agitated you a little bit and you. Delaware and Andre and set the record clear personally since that since that evening. You know we have we we talked after the incident the fumes -- comfortable out there and got personal and Alec Andre I don't have -- sort of bad feelings towards him. And it's just got -- that night I don't know what happened it was sort of a blur. I've spoken Andre. You know you know many times since then we're fine. It's just unfortunate that it it got. Sort of weird there. And it was sort I don't know to say about it's it's. With a comfortable yet trying to put on a showed an exhibition like tonight's WB -- tonight you would not feast for you guys be able look for the crowd you guys talk in between points the night. And I don't think we're going to be that maybe just have to play with -- like gone so -- But it will be straightforward --