Sampras to play on with Wimbledon as motivation

Pete Sampras has decided to extend his career by at least one more season, by the end of which he will be 32. Although tempted to retire after winning his 14th Grand Slam singles title in dramatic style at the United States Open last September, the Californian realised he had unfinished business and is determined to leave Wimbledon on a positive note.

While acknowledging that there is no guarantee of his winning a record eighth men's singles title at the All England Club, Sampras does not want to be remembered for losing to George Bastl, a Swiss "lucky loser", in the relative backwater of Court Two last June.

Sampras told the Los Angeles Times that he does not have time to prepare for the Australian Open, which starts on 13 January, and expects to make his return at the ATP tournament in San Jose in February. "I'll start there and then go to tournaments in Scottsdale [Arizona], Indian Wells and Miami," he said. Sampras hopes to play at the French Open, the only Grand Slam event he has not won, Wimbledon, and the US Open.

Emphasising that he does not want his 2003 season to be viewed as a farewell tour, Sampras said: "I'm just going to see how it goes, just ride the wave and see how far it takes me."

Sampras's wife, Bridgette, recently gave birth to their first child Christian. Bridgette, plus his father, Sam, and his brother, Gus, were his closest advisors in making the decision. "The talk of not playing seemed a little scary," he said.

Tim Henman is optimistic about playing in Australia, where the year's first Grand Slam, on rubberised concrete in Melbourne, will be followed by Britain's first round Davis Cup World Group tie against Australia on a clay court in Sydney.

"I feel very positive about my chances of making it out to Australia," the British No 1 said after hitting balls on Tuesday for the first time for over six weeks after undergoing surgery to his right shoulder. "The really positive aspect is that when I woke up this morning my shoulder felt 100 per cent," Henman said yesterday.

Elena Baltacha, Britain's No 1 woman player, has been given a wild card for the singles draw at the Australian Open. Anne Keothavong, the British No 4, has been given a wild card for the qualifying event. Amelie Mauresmo, France's world No 6, has withdrawn because of a knee injury.