ROME, April 30 (UPI) -- Pete Sampras said Wednesday he would skip next week's Italian Open, one of the premier tuneups for the French Open, the year's second Grand Slam tournament.
The French Open is the only Grand Slam event Sampras has never won.
The former world No. 1 has not played since winning the U.S. Open last September, a victory that increased his record haul of major titles to 14. He has entered several tournaments this season, but pulled out of each one.
The 31-year-old American asked for and received a wild card for the Wimbledon warmup event at Queens Club. It has been rumored Sampras will make a final appearance at Wimbledon, a tournament he has won seven times, before retiring.
The Rome event already is without world No. 2 Lleyton Hewitt of Australia, who withdrew after doctors advised him to rest.
