Pete Sampras will return to London for the first time since his last Wimbledon appearance after signing up to play in the BlackRock Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall, 2-7 December, 2008.

The seven-time Wimbledon champion will take on a field of fellow former World No.1’s, Grand Slam finalists and Davis Cup winners at the popular event, which is now in its 12th year.

 Sampras sampled the unique atmosphere at the Royal Albert Hall when he played in the Doubles World Championships in 1989, and he is excited at the prospect of returning.

 “I remember the Royal Albert Hall being a great arena,” said Sampras.

 “You could hear the glasses during the points with all the people drinking champagne, and everyone in their tuxedos. They really live it up there, so I’m looking forward to it. I haven’t been back to London since my last Wimbledon six years ago, but I’ve heard a lot of good things about the event at the Royal Albert Hall and that it’s really well supported. I’m excited and pretty pumped up to go back and play a little tennis for them.”

 He promises that he has lost little of his competitive spirit.

 “It’s still fun for me to compete, it’s still a challenge and I still want to hold that trophy up at the end,” said Sampras.

 “Today, or 10 years from now, if I’m on the tennis court, I’ll still want to play well and win. When you’re out there, even though it’s now a different sort of arena, you want to win.”

 Nuala Walsh, Head of International Marketing at BlackRock commented:

 "We are delighted that Pete Sampras will be joining the BlackRock Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall in December.  The Tour of Champions gives tennis fans a wonderful opportunity to see some of the world's greatest tennis legends in action again. With tournaments taking place across so many countries in which BlackRock operates, this is also a great way for us to entertain our clients globally."

 Sampras Finds Right Balance

 Sampras retired from the ATP circuit in glorious fashion in 2002, winning the US Open, his 14th and final Grand Slam title. It set a record that still stands today. Upon retirement, the American took a step away from the sport.

 “Tennis had been such a big focus in my life and for a while it was great to be away from the sport and I loved it,” he said.

 “I was playing golf and having fun, but after two or three years I started to get a little bored and a little bit restless. There’s no book on retirement, especially at 31 years old. Initially you love it but after a while you need something to do. I have two kids - a five-year-old, Christian, and a two-year-old, Ryan, and it has been a lot of fun to see them grow and spend time with them. But, at the same time I feel like a man should work, maybe I’m a little old-fashioned. It took me a while to get to the realisation that I would like to play again and get back into the sport. When I was 26, I never thought I would want to play Champions tennis. But, as time goes on, when you’re playing golf, taking some trips here and there and maybe putting on a little bit of weight, you kind of feel a little bit unfulfilled as a man. That’s how I felt.”

 It didn’t take long for the American to re-discover his fitness, form and desire to play and he is now looking forward to the unique blend of fun and competition to be found on the BlackRock Tour of Champions.

“It’s definitely going to be a lot more relaxed,” said Sampras.

 “I used to be so focussed that I would just see the hotel and the courts and that was it. I had the feeling that I was expected to win and then there was all the pressure that I put on myself. Today, I still want to play well and still want to win but if I don’t it’s not the end of the world. It’s a totally different feel.  I was pretty serious when I played but now I’m a little more relaxed. At the same time, people do want to see competitive tennis, they want to see the real deal. The crowd still want to see me serve and volley the way I used to and pull off my shots, but it will be with a bit of a lighter atmosphere.”

 The BlackRock Masters Tennis will take place 2-7 December, 2008.

 For tickets, go to www.blackrockmasters.com or call 020 8233 5882