Breakers bring in Sampras

A map of the U.S. held more insight into the possibility of the Newport Beach Breakers drafting Pete Sampras than the draft order.

Sitting near the bottom of the 12-team World Team Tennis draft was not ideal for drafting the owner of 14 Grand Slam titles. But being located 100 miles from Sampras’ home in Palm Springs was an advantage no other team could offer.

Houston started with the top pick. But Newport Beach forked over undisclosed “financial considerations” to gain the top pick, then took Sampras on Tuesday.

Ramon Delgado, a two-year veteran of the Breakers, and doubles player Anastassia Rodionova were retained when the Breakers chose to protect them from being drafted by other teams.

Newport Beach, the 2004 WTT champion which lost in the finals last season, also drafted Tina Krizan, the No. 77 doubles player on the WTA Tour.

Rick Leach, the son of Breakers Coach Dick Leach, was also acquired by the Breakers via a trade with the Springfield Lasers.

Sampras, playing his first year in the WTT and for first time professionally since retiring in 2002, was the most coveted player in the draft. Sampras is scheduled to play in seven matches, one at Newport Beach and six on the road.

“We are very excited about having Pete on our team,” Breakers’ General Manager Jenna Silverman said. “It has been in the works for a few weeks. I think he’s really excited. I think he wanted to play for the Breakers. The fact that it’s going to be his first time back, the fans are really going to appreciate that. They’re excited to have him back.”

Dick Leach, who coached tennis for 23 years at USC and won four national titles, knows exactly how he plans to coach Sampras.

“I get out of the way,” said Leach, who was once asked by Sampras father to teach 15-year-old Pete how to volley.

With Sampras on the team and the WTT Finals scheduled for Newport Beach, Leach is enjoying the pressure.

“That’s the kind of pressure you want,” said Leach, who coached his son at USC and is happy to be reunited. “I’m very excited to have Rick on the Breakers.”

Rick Leach is partly to thank for Delgado joining the Breakers. The younger Leach suggested the team draft Delgado after seeing him on the ATP Tour.

“Three years ago, Rick told me ‘Ramon Delgado is a great player. If you get a chance, draft him,’ ” Dick Leach said. “He’s a great player and a great guy.”

Delgado, the Most Valuable Player of the 2004 WTT Finals, has been earning fans since his arrival.

“Every year he has really grown,” Silverman said. “He had his own little fan club. People come just to watch Ramon Delgado. He interacts well with the fans. He’s a great team player, very dependable.”

Sampras is not be the lone former ATP star scheduled to visit Newport Beach this season. John McEnroe, playing for the New York Sportimes, is slated to play a match at Palisades Tennis Club, the Breakers’ home court. It’s McEnroe’s only scheduled appearance of the season for the Sportimes.

“[McEnroe] was in Newport Beach and the fans really liked him,” Silverman said of the five-time U.S. Open champion known for his brash court behavior. “Everybody likes a little controversy in tennis.”

The schedule for the WTT season will be released in April Silverman said.

Other marquee players drafted in the WTT were Venus Williams, No. 2 by the Philadelphia Freedoms (via a trade with Delaware), Martina Navratilova, No. 9 by the Boston Lobsters, and Anna Kournikova, No. 10 by the Sacramento Capitals.dpt-breakers.BGraphicInfo0K1PDQP3200603290K1PDQP3(LA)dpt.29-breakers-sampras-BPhotoInfo0K1PDHGK20060329iwv6m3kn(LA)Pete Sampras was chosen by the Newport Beach Breakers as the first pick of the World Team Tennis draft Tuesday.