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SALT LAKE CITY — Tuesday night just might be Utah tennis fans ‘once in a lifetime’ chance to watch two of the greatest tennis legends play each other in their home state.
John McEnroe will face off with Pete Sampras in EnergySolutions Arena as part of the PowerShares Champions Challenge Tennis Series.
Salt Lake is one of 12 stops on this tour, featuring tennis legends over the age of 30. McEnroe and Sampras have 21 Grand Slam titles (Sampras 14, McEnroe 7) between them.
Sampras and McEnroe will play a one set semifinal match, the winner will take on the winner of Jim Courier and James Blake in an eight game final.
“I think we’re all playing to win but we are also playing to entertain the fans,” Sampras told KSL's Rod Zundel in "A Conversation with Rod".
People want to see some good tennis, but also some ‘light hearted’ moments in a set. But we want to play well as we have a lot of pride out there and people pay good money to see us play real tennis, so that’s my goal.
–Pete Sampras
"People want to see some good tennis, but also some ‘light hearted’ moments in a set. But we want to play well as we have a lot of pride out there and people pay good money to see us play real tennis, so that’s my goal."
At the 12 stops, tennis legends will also share their on-court expertise in exclusive tennis clinics, giving sponsors and fans unique access and entertainment from some of the world’s greatest tennis stars.
Sampras vs. McEnroe begins at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
You can listen to Rod's full interview with Pete Sampras by clicking here.
