Agassi Apologizes For Sampras Gibe
Source: Agencies |
March 17, 2010, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ANDRE Agassi told ESPN.com he was "out of line" and apologized for poking fun at Pete Sampras during a charity match last week in California.
Longtime rivals Agassi and Sampras were wearing microphones during the match, and the crowd at Indian Wells Tennis Garden could hear an exchange that started lighthearted but turned testy.
At one point Sampras mimicked Agassi's pigeon-toed walk, which drew laughs from the crowd.
Then Agassi chided Sampras for being stingy. In his book, Agassi criticized Sampras for being a poor tipper.
Sampras responded with a high, hard serve that forced Agassi, who was partnering Rafael Nadal, to duck.
"It was out of line," Agassi told ESPN.com on Monday. "It was inappropriate. The night was on fire. We were all having fun. I was trying to be comedic. I only had a split second to make a decision. I went for it and it fell flat. I was trying to get past it, but Pete didn't really let me get past it. He didn't really roll with it. I've texted Pete to ask him if I can apologize in person."
"The joke fell flat and I'm sorry," he added. "My hope was that the night was still enjoyable."
Nadal was asked about Sampras and Agassi after his Monday night match.
"Everybody told me after the match what's happened, but during the match, you know how fast Americans speak, and I am Spanish. I didn't understand nothing," he said.
Nadal said he felt no tension between them either on or off the court.
Longtime rivals Agassi and Sampras were wearing microphones during the match, and the crowd at Indian Wells Tennis Garden could hear an exchange that started lighthearted but turned testy.
At one point Sampras mimicked Agassi's pigeon-toed walk, which drew laughs from the crowd.
Then Agassi chided Sampras for being stingy. In his book, Agassi criticized Sampras for being a poor tipper.
Sampras responded with a high, hard serve that forced Agassi, who was partnering Rafael Nadal, to duck.
"It was out of line," Agassi told ESPN.com on Monday. "It was inappropriate. The night was on fire. We were all having fun. I was trying to be comedic. I only had a split second to make a decision. I went for it and it fell flat. I was trying to get past it, but Pete didn't really let me get past it. He didn't really roll with it. I've texted Pete to ask him if I can apologize in person."
"The joke fell flat and I'm sorry," he added. "My hope was that the night was still enjoyable."
Nadal was asked about Sampras and Agassi after his Monday night match.
"Everybody told me after the match what's happened, but during the match, you know how fast Americans speak, and I am Spanish. I didn't understand nothing," he said.
Nadal said he felt no tension between them either on or off the court.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
