SIDELINES : Bad News Kept From Sampras

Pete Sampras received bad news after beating Andre Agassi last Sunday to win the U.S. Open men’s singles title.

His brother’s godfather, with whom Sampras and his brother were very close, died Saturday in Maryland. Sampras’ mother, Georgia, said in today’s editions of the New York Times, decided not to tell her son until after his semifinal match that day.

“I try not to tell Pete bad thing before a match,” Georgia Sampras said. “He needs to concentrate on the match.”