Tarango takes Sampras' spot on US Olympic team

Jeff Tarango was added to the US Olympic team for the Sydney Games today, replacing No. 2 ranked Pete Sampras who didn't want to make the trip.

Jeff Tarango was added to the US Olympic team for the Sydney Games today, replacing No. 2 ranked Pete Sampras who didn't want to make the trip.

Tarango, 31, completes the team announced today by the US Tennis Association which also includes defending men's champion Andre Agassi, Michael Chang and Todd Martin in singles. Alex O'Brien and Jared Palmer will play doubles.

Sampras, who won a record 13th Grand Slam title last month at Wimbledon, said he simply didn't want to make the long trip in September to the Games, which come shortly after the US Open.

Stan Smith, who became US men's coach last week, talked with Sampras but was unable to change his mind.

Jan-Michael Gambill also turned down a chance to play, opening a spot for Tarango, best known for his tantrums at Wimbledon.

Agassi, a second-generation Olympian, won the gold at Atlanta in 1996. Martin, 30, was barely beaten out for a spot on the US squad that year by MaliVai Washington. Chang played for the US team in 1992 at Barcelona.

Sampras also played at the 1992 Games. He was a member of the 1996 team but withdrew just before the opening ceremonies because of an injury.

The four-player women's team announced Monday includes defending gold medalist Lindsay Davenport, Monica Seles and Venus Williams in singles, and Venus and her sister Serena in doubles. The women will be coached by Billie Jean King.

The tennis event at Sydney will be held September 19-28.