Agassi Apologizes For Sampras Gibe
Source: Agencies |
March 17, 2010, Wednesday
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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.
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