by Randy Walker
@TennisPublisher
Who is the pick of Pete Sampras to win the 2015 Australian Open men’s singles title?
Sampras was posed the question Monday morning on CBC Radio in Vancouver, Canada, appearing to promote his appearance at the May 2 PowerShares Series event in the western Canadian city.
“I like Djokovic,” said Sampras. “He’s just so strong on that court. He is going to be tough to beat….If I was a betting man, I would have to put it on Djokovic. I just think he has won it four times, he is going for his fifth. He is just playing too well.”
Asked what his men’s final would be, the 14-time major champion and two-time Australian Open predicated a repeat of the 2012 Australian Open final, Sampras did not stray from the predicted seedings.
“I say Djokovic and Nadal,” he said of the top-seeded Serbian and the No. 3-seed Nadal, the highest-ranked player in the bottom half of the draw. “When push comes to shove, in the tight matches, I still like those guys getting through these battles. Nadal is still up there, even though he has had some injuries, I don’t see him slowing down. It should be a good second week. I am just going to sit back and watch these guys battle it out.”
Prior to also playing at the PowerShares Series event in Vancouver on May 2, along with John McEnroe, Michael Chang and Mark Philippoussis, Sampras will also play in his hometown of Los Angeles on March 25 at the Gallen Center at the University of Southern California. For full schedule, ticket and player information on the PowerShares Series, go to www.PowerSharesSeries.com
The PowerShares Series, the North American tennis circuit for champion tennis players, will visit 12 cities in 2015 and conclude Saturday, May 2 in Vancouver. The full 2015 PowerShares Series schedule with field of players are as follows:
2015 PowerShares Series Schedule
Tuesday, March 24: Salt Lake City, Utah (Huntsman Center) “Champions Shootout” featuring Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, James Blake, Mark Philippoussis
Wednesday, March 25: Los Angeles, Calif., (Galen Center at USC) “SoCal Honda Dealers Helpful Cup” featuring Pete Sampras, Andy Roddick, Jim Courier, James Blake
Wednesday, April 1: Lincoln, Neb., (Pinnacle Bank Arena at Univ. of Nebraska) “Champions Cup Presented by Woods Park Tennis” featuring John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, Jim Courier, James Blake
Thursday, April 2: Chicago, Ill. (Sears Centre) “PowerShares QQQ Challenge” featuring John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, Jim Courier, James Blake
Thursday, April 16: Austin, Texas (Cedar Park Center) “Champions Shootout” featuring John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, Jim Courier, James Blake
Friday, April 17: Little Rock, Ark. (Jack Stephens Center at the UALR) “Champions Cup” featuring John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, Jim Courier, Mark Philippoussis
Saturday, April 18: Dallas, Texas (Moody Coliseum at SMU) “Champions Showdown” featuring John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, Jim Courier, Mark Philippoussis
Wednesday, April 22: Boston, Mass. (Agganis Arena at Boston University) “Champions Cup” featuring John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, Jim Courier, James Blake
Thursday, April 23: Richmond, Va., (Siegel Center at VCU) “Champions Challenge” featuring John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, Jim Courier, James Blake
Wednesday, April 29: Minneapolis, Minn. (Target Center) “Champions Shootout” featuring John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, Michael Chang, James Blake
Thursday, April 30: Cincinnati, Ohio (Cintas Center at Xavier) “Champions Showdown” featuring John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, Michael Chang, James Blake
Saturday, May 2: Vancouver, Canada (Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre at UBC) “Champions Showdown” featuring Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Michael Chang, Mark Philippoussis
In 2014, John McEnroe won the PowerShares Series points title for the first time in the nine-year history of Champions Series tennis by winning events in Kansas City, Indianapolis, Nashville and Charlotte. McEnroe was followed in the points standings by Blake in second place and Roddick in third place.
