Call it a Comeback Pete: Why Grand Slam Champ Pete Sampras Should Come Back to the ATP Tour

Months before I ever watched the recent three-match exhibition series between legendary Hall of Famer, Pete Sampras and the world's current No. 1 player, Roger Federer, I was in favor of a comeback by Sampras once I found out that the all-time grand slam champion's competitive juices were starting to flow once again and he was interested in playing some form of competitive tennis again, no matter how infrequent.

After watching the immediate success Sampras had on his comeback with the Men's 'Outback Champion's Tour', I became even more convinced that Sampras could take his comeback to an even bigger stage - the regular men's ATP Tour, at least on a limited basis.

Now, after watching Sampras play Federer as well as any other player on the face of the planet has for the past four years, I am unequivocally convinced that Sampras could not only play with Federer and the other young stars on the ATP Tour, but also regain the success he once displayed so routinely when he was a regular player on the tour himself.

Now, I'd by lying if I said I expected Sampras to play in 30 or 40 tournaments per year, but I think, it is without question that Sampras could easily play in all four majors as well as several of the other really prestigious tournaments, both at home and abroad if he so chooses.

I think somewhere in the neighborhood of 12 to 15 tournaments, tops, would be just about the right amount of court time for the 35-year-old Sampras to hone his game, yet maintain some sort of routine rest for his athletically-aged body.

However, knowing Sampras' legendary work ethic, the thought of a part-time comeback is sickening to a former player who knows only one way to prepare for a tournament - with all-out diligence.

When asked earlier this year whether he would consider coming back for a major tournament - Wimbledon in particular - he wasted no time in expressing his mixed feelings.

"Well, I'm curious sometimes," Sampras said. "All these thoughts keep creeping into my mind and there is a curiosity, but realistically, no. I wouldn't play Wimbledon just to play it. I'd play it to win it, and to do that I would basically have to change my lifestyle, get in great shape and really, really make tennis my life again. I'm done with those days. But I do have moments of thinking how I might do in one match against someone.

Of course, my head is in total agreement with a part of Sampras' thinking even if my heart's not. I mean, what has the man not accomplished in the sport and what could he possibly gain by coming back - even for one or two majors?

Absolutely nothing.

Even if Sampras were to come back and somehow manage to beat Federer in the finals at Wimbledon - then what?

Would that improve his already legendary status as one of the greatest players of all-time?

No, I think not. Sampras has already cemented that particular view.

Realistically, the only thing that could happen would be a negative - where some boneheaded sports writer somewhere would suggest that Sampras is actually tarnishing his legacy by hanging on too long.

While I think that would be the farthest thing from the truth, the fact of the matter is that, in today's times, people look for the slightest opening to deride the achievements of others and look for some sort of way to bring them down a notch or two.

While Sampras' legacy and accomplishments are firmly etched in granite for all-time, here's hoping that Sampras not only gives the comeback thought some merit, but actually puts a plan together to compete on tour into action.

As Sampras stated in another interview earlier this season, "I was in a good place when I retired, but after three years of not doing much, I became restless and bored. I didn't know if I wanted to play again or not, then opportunities opened up."

Even more telling, was this quote from Sampras.

"Every man needs to work," Sampras told the Idaho Statesman. "I'm not much of a business coat-and-tie guy, not much of a computer-and-phone guy. I'm an athlete."

While he is certainly past the usual prime age for winning grand slam championships, here's hoping that Sampras will give it the old college try at least one more time. I mean, it's not like the sport couldn't use another champion with Federer winning three grand slam titles in three of the past four seasons right?