Sampras To Face Blake, McEnroe To Play Courier As Semifinal Match-Ups Announced For Champions Shootout In Sacramento

Written by: Staff on 20th November 2013

Sampras To Face Blake, McEnroe To Play Courier As Semifinal Match-Ups Announced For Champions Shootout In Sacramento

epa02942770 US tennis star Pete Sampras returns the ball to former world number one Marat Safin of Russia during an exhibition match to inaugurate the new Tennis China Open center court in Beijing, China, 30 September 2011. EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL |

NEW YORK, Nov. 20, 2013 – InsideOut Sports & Entertainment announced today that Pete Sampras will play James Blake and John McEnroe will face Jim Courier in the semifinals of the Champions Shootout to be played Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 7 pm at the Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento.

The Champions Shootout is part of the 12-city PowerShares Series tennis circuit, featuring legendary tennis players over the age of 30. The one-night tournament will feature three matches; two one-set semifinal matches, followed by a one-set championship match.

Sampras and Blake, former U.S. Davis Cup teammates, did not compete against each other while on the ATP World Tour. Courier and McEnroe played each other three times on the ATP World Tour, Courier winning on two occasions, the latter being in the round of 16 at the 1992 U.S. Open in McEnroe’s final singles match at a Grand Slam tournament. The two have played 14 times on the Champions Series circuit with McEnroe leading the head-to-head 8-6.

Event tickets starting at $25 are available for sale at www.PowerSharesSeries.com, www.TicketMaster.com, Ticket Master outlets, at the Sleep Train Arena box office or by calling 800-745-3000. VIP packages for all events are also available at PowerSharesSeries.com, by email to VIP@insideoutse.com, or by phone at 253.315.4299

Sampras made his claim as being one of the greatest players in tennis history by winning a then record 14 major singles titles during his career, including a record seven Wimbledon singles titles and five U.S. Open singles titles, including his career finale in 2002 against Andre Agassi. He also captured two Australian Open titles and 64 singles title overall. He helped the United States to Davis Cup titles in 1992 and 1995.

McEnroe won seven majors singles titles in his career along with 10 other majors in doubles and mixed doubles. He won the U.S. Open four times and Wimbledon three times and helped the United States to the Davis Cup title five times. He captured 77 career singles titles and 78 career doubles titles, his last being in San Jose, California in 2006 at the age of 47. McEnroe, who will turn 55 on February 9, has continued his fine play, winning numerous champions events around the world in singles and doubles since his final full-time year on the ATP Tour in 1992. He also continues to entertain tennis audiences as one of the best television commentators in the sport’s history.

Courier won a pair of French and Australian Open singles titles in the early 1990s when he became the first American to reach the No. 1 ranking since McEnroe in 1985. Courier was also the youngest player to reach all four major singles finals in a career when he reached the Wimbledon final in 1993 at age 22. He also guided the U.S. to Davis Cup titles in 1992 and 1995 and currently serves as the U.S. team captain.

Blake ended his 14-year ATP career, that saw him win 10 singles titles and reach a career high ranking of No. 4, at the 2013 U.S. Open. Blake is best known for playing singles for the U.S. Davis Cup team in helping the United States win the 2007 title – the first win for a U.S. team since 1995.

The full 2014 Power Shares Series schedule with field of players are as follows:

Wednesday, February 5, Kansas City, Missouri, Sprint Center – Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Michael Chang

Thursday, February 6, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Chesapeake Energy Arena – Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Michael Chang

Thursday, February 13, Birmingham, Alabama, Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex – John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, Jim Courier, Mark Philippoussis

Friday, February 14, Indianapolis, Bankers Life Fieldhouse – John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Jim Courier, Mark Philippoussis

Wednesday, February 19, Denver, Pepsi Center – Andy Roddick, James Blake, Jim Courier, Mark Philippoussis

Thursday, February 20, Houston, Toyota Center – Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Andy Roddick, James Blake

Tuesday, February 25, Salt Lake City, Energy Solutions Arena – Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Jim Courier, James Blake

Wednesday, February 26, Sacramento, Sleep Train Arena – Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Jim Courier, James Blake

Thursday, February 27, Portland, Moda Center – Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Jim Courier, James Blake

Wednesday, March 12 Nashville, Bridgestone Arena – John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Jimmy Connors, Mats Wilander

Thursday, March 13, Charlotte, Time Warner Arena – John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Jimmy Connors, Mats Wilander

Friday, March 21, Surprise, Surprise Stadium – Pete Sampras, Jim Courier, Todd Martin, Michael Chang