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Sampras serves like his old self in losing effort at SAP Open exhibition

- Pete Sampras hits a backhand against Fernando Verdasco, of Spain, in an exhibition match at the SAP Open tennis tournament Monday, Feb. 8, 2010, in San Jose, Calif. Verdasco beat Sampras 6-3, 7-6 (2). (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/George Nikitin)

Pete Sampras hits a backhand against Fernando Verdasco, of Spain, in an exhibition match at the SAP Open tennis tournament Monday, Feb. 8, 2010, in San Jose, Calif. Verdasco beat Sampras 6-3, 7-6 (2). (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/George Nikitin)

Published on February 8th, 2010
Published on February 8th, 2010
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SAN JOSE, Calif. , Spain

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Pete Sampras showed off that old brilliant serve. The rest of the retired star's game is lacking a bit these days.

Sampras hung tough against a top player 12 years his junior in the second set of his 6-3, 7-6 (2) loss to Spain's Fernando Verdasco in a 56-minute exhibition match Monday night at the SAP Open. Sampras received a rousing standing ovation once it was over. He waved and hit three balls into the crowd before telling everybody he "felt a little old" out there.

It was first exhibition match for the 14-time Grand Slam champion since he beat longtime American rival Andre Agassi 3-6, 6-3, 10-8, decided on a match tiebreak at Macau in late October.

© Canadian Press