FanHouse PeteSampras

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

During a time when so many top athletes are addicted to Twitter, tennis great Pete Sampras tells us why you'll never find him sending out updates on the social networking site. Also, hear what this former No. 1 ranked player has to say about the state of tennis today, and why the United States is no longer dominating the sport. Sampras, by the way, is second all-time in earnings, making over $43 million as an active player.

Check out the video after the jump.

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

For the past nine years the Harold Pump Foundation, created by David and Dana Pump (known as the gurus of high school and college basketball) has raised over $3.5 million dollars to fight cancer. The foundation's efforts have not gone unnoticed. Major stars such as Magic Johnson, Paul Pierce, Sugar Ray Leonard, Pete Sampras and Denzel Washington have all joined the Pump brothers. In this report we also hear from young NBA stars like Kevin Love, Brandon Jennings, and Blake Griffin.

Check out the video after the jump.

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- Roger Federer found himself in a serving contest Monday at Wimbledon-and won.

The five-time champion hit 23 aces, never lost serve and advanced to the quarterfinals by beating familiar foil Robin Soderling 6-4, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5).

Federer improved to 11-0 against Soderling, including a victory in the French Open final three weeks ago to complete a career Grand Slam.

Another day, another big pile of Euros: Roger Federer had little trouble beating Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez at Wimbledon on Wednesday, dispatching the Spaniard in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4. Federer is through to the third round and still well on track to play for a record 15th major title. Federer currently shares the record of 14 majors with Pete Sampras.

Of course, in the internet age, there are always people who can see the cloud behind every silver lining. Reading message boards and article comments, it's clear that more than a few tennis fans feel that Federer should get an asterisk next to his record if he wins out at Wimbledon. Why? Because if he wins and sets the new record, he will not have beaten Rafael Nadal to do so. Since Nadal is the top-ranked player in the world, it would seem that any title which doesn't pass through him is tainted.

PARIS (AP)-Sentimental favorite Roger Federer did not quite follow the script Friday at the French Open. He decided to go for high drama.

Striving to complete a career Grand Slam, Federer came from behind twice in the semifinals to beat big-serving Juan Martin del Potro 3-6, 7-6 (2), 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Playing in his fourth consecutive Roland Garros final, Federer will try for his 14th major title to match Pete Sampras' record.

Cue the misquotation of Tom Hanks: "There's no crying in tennis!"

There was crying Sunday at the Australian Open, as Rafael Nadal continued his dominance of Roger Federer, winning a five-set Everlasting Gobstopper of a final, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-2. Federer was emotional following the match, unable to keep from crying as Nadal soaked up the crowd's acclaim. Even Nadal was moved by Federer's anguish, offering a comforting shoulder and encouraging words to his greatest competitor. It was a touching scene, even if Federer was seeming to steal Nadal's moment. Then again, the moment belonged to Federer as well.

Andy Roddick should look at the bright side. He didn't lose to Roger Federer as badly as he usually does. Still, in the Australian Open semifinals on Thursday, Federer beat Roddick in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5, 7-5.

The two 7-5 sets are the hopeful part for Roddick. Maybe he can catch the Federbot one of these days. Roddick actually beat him the last time they played, almost a year ago in Miami. Prior to that, Roddick hadn't even won a set against Federer since late in 2006. That's how dominant Federer is. He is not the Tiger Woods of tennis. Tiger Woods is the Roger Federer of golf.

Andy Murray will have time to contemplate the pie floater this week. The No. 4-seeded Brit lost a five-set match to Spain's Fernando Verdasco (right) on Monday at the Australian Open, becoming the latest seeded player to get beat at a tournament that hasn't been kind to the "over-dogs."

To be honest, this is a little sad. Roger Federer was once the Tiger Woods of tennis, a sport that doesn't allow you to dominate for long -- too many rallies, too much athleticism, and too many young guys trying to take over your reign as the top dog.

Roger was defeated in the first round of the Masters Cup in Shanghai yesterday by a 23-year-old Frenchman named Gilles Simon. Federer, who was up a set and looking to cruise, found himself in a nasty situation he couldn't get out of.

No matter the decision, Tiger Woods was going to land criticism, so he just decided to avoid the Ryder Cup altogether, making it official today on his website.

Some thought it might be good for Woods to show up for the American team while others thought it might be a distraction. Tiger said he will be watching the matches but isn't going to make the trip to Kentucky.

"I plan to watch the Ryder Cup this week, but I will not attend. U.S. captain Paul Azinger has my cell phone number, and he or any U.S. player can call me any time." he said. "If I can offer any assistance, I'm happy to help.

"I doubt I can do much, since I can't play practice rounds and am not privy to their team chemistry. I also don't know who is playing well, who is injured, and have no feel for how the course is playing. But I'll be happy to offer my opinion. I wish the American team well and hope they can bring back the Cup."

This is the right decision. There is no reason for Tiger to show up and put any more pressure on this poor American team. We spend enough time talking about Woods when he isn't even part of the story because he's still the headliner in golf, but this is one event we don't need him around in. This is about new players having a chance to do something for their country and while we'd all love to have Tiger playing for the U.S. squad, it isn't going to happen.