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Tennis

Ex-stars to play matches in Tampa

Fifteen months after organizers landed Jennifer Capriati and Anna Kournikova, the Volvo Classic is going retro.

And the lineup is loaded.

The three-match session March 1 at the St. Pete Times Forum features legends Tracy Austin, Jim Courier, John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova, winners of more than 50 combined major titles. Austin plays Navratilova, and McEnroe plays Courier. Then the four compete in a mixed doubles match.

"This is a little more directed at the serious tennis fan," Forum spokesperson Bill Wickett said. "This is the second year we've put on a tennis exhibition, and we think this market will support an event like this at least once a year."

Tickets range from $25-175. Boxes also are available. Call (813) 301-6600 or go to stpetetimesforum.com.

STRONG FIELD: Sarasota resident Mary Pierce, a two-time major champion and ranked 47th in the world, is the latest big name to commit to the Sarasota Clay Court Classic, joining Patty Schnyder (No.13), Anna Pistolesi (15), Elena Bovina (17), Nathalie Dechy (19), Lisa Raymond (21), Tatiana Panova (22) and Meghann Shaughnessy (27).

Former major champions Conchita Martinez and Iva Majoli also will play in the $140,000 tournament, March 31-April 6 at The Meadows Country Club.

Tickets are at www.sarasotaclaycourtclassic.com and (941) 894-0040. A few box seats remain.

WAITING FOR PETE: Pete Sampras, who hasn't played competitively since winning last year's U.S. Open, withdrew from this week's Siebel Open, saying he wasn't "fully prepared to compete at the highest level." He now is scheduled to return at the Franklin Templeton Classic, which starts March 3.

Sampras also expects to play the next week at the Pacific Life Open and the March 19-30 Nasdaq-100 Open. Sampras, 31, is a three-time Nasdaq champion.

MORE NASDAQ: Tournament officials in Key Biscayne say the tournament will have the top 78 men's players and 75 of the top 78 women's players.

"It is a credit to Miami and all who work around the Nasdaq-100 Open that great players come back year after year and enjoy playing here," tournament director Adam Barrett said. "We try to provide the players with a relaxed environment and an opportunity to experience all Miami has to offer while focusing on playing tennis at the highest level."

The $6.2-million purse doesn't hurt, either.

For details, call (800) 725-5472 or go to nasdaq-100open.com.

SO LONG: Because this is former French Open champion Michael Chang's final year on tour, he'll be honored at each tournament he plays, beginning this week in San Jose. Chang, who turns 31 later this month, has 34 singles titles and more than $19-million in earnings.

He was 17 when he won at Roland Garros in 1989. In 1996, he was the runner-up at the Australian Open and U.S. Open.

CHART TOPPER: Top-ranked Serena Williams, who won another tournament title in Paris on Sunday, is undefeated in 2003 and has won 50 of 52 matches. She has reached the final in 10 of her past 11 events, winning eight.

ODDS AND ENDS: At atptennis.com, fans can go head to head in fantasy tennis against tour player Max Mirnyi. Mirnyi spent his top pick on Marat Safin, who costs $2.75-million. It costs $15 to play. ... Thanks in large part to his semifinal appearance at the Australian Open, 20-year old American Andy Roddick has vaulted from 10th to a career-best fifth in the rankings. Roddick never had advanced past the quarters in a major.

-- Information from other news organizations was used in the report.

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