PREP NOTES
On May 30, 1987, he was a shy, scrawny sophomore playing in Newport Beach for his first Southern Section tennis championship.
The Times described him as “robotic” and remarkably poised for his age. His coach at Palos Verdes High, when asked what advice he’d give to a future opponent, said: “I’d probably tell him to cheat. There might not be another way.”
Who was it? Pete Sampras, the world’s No. 3-ranked player who made his return to Orange County Oct. 1, defeating Michael Chang in an exhibition match at the Bren Center.
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