Sampras

After the interregnum of spoiled bratism led by Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe and kept alive by their admirers, Californian Pete Sampras has restored sportsmanship and style to international tennis. As he puts it: ""that's the way tennis should be played--with class."" And while Sampras's polite, low-key manner has won him few friends in the media, many of whom would seem to prefer temper tantrums, he has accumulated an outstanding record: at 25, he has won seven grand-slam singles titles, placing him ninth on the all-time winners list. He recently won his fourth U.S. Open championship. But Tampa Tribune tennis writer Branham is somewhat stymied by the fact that Sampras is so young. His whole life has been devoted to the game from age nine, his parents are even more private than he and the major emotional trauma of his life was the death of his coach and friend, Tim Gullikson, earlier this year. Sampras has simply not been around long enough to provide fodder for a rich biography. Furthermore, he has not lived the typical American-celebrity lifestyle, and it shows here. One is left with the impression that the book is premature. Still, Branham's knowledge of tennis and of Sampras's career will appeal to court aficionados. Photos not seen by PW. 75,000 first printing; first serial to Tampa Tribune; author tour. (Nov.)