Injury Slows Sampras in Preparation for French

Pete Sampras’ preparation for the only Grand Slam title to elude him--the French Open--has been hampered by a quadriceps injury suffered last month in the United States’ Davis Cup victory over the Czech Republic at the Great Western Forum.

Sampras, bidding to break the record of 12 Grand Slam titles he shares with Australian great Roy Emerson, said he will not play again until the Hamburg clay-court tournament two weeks before the French Open.

In a conference call Thursday, Sampras said he had been out of action for three weeks after that injury.

The former No. 1 said he would definitely play at the French Open, starting May 29, but would sit out next week’s Italian Open.

“My quad is still giving me some problems. So my first event back will probably be at the German Open in Hamburg,” Sampras said.

“I am on the court hitting, but I am not doing a lot of explosive movement and there’s still a little bit of tenderness. Obviously I am trying to stay in shape somehow, but I am not able to really play any sets.”