Tennis: Sampras accepts wild card for AAPT Championships

Pete Sampras has accepted a wild card entry into the AAPT Championships in Adelaide to prepare for next year's Australian Open.

It will be the first time world number 10 Sampras had played in the event, which starts on New Year's Eve.

Australian Mark Philippoussis has also been given a wild card for the tournament.

World number one Lleyton Hewitt - who began his professional career with a wild card entry to the 1998 event, which he went on to win - has decided to skip the tournament.

Defending champion Tommy Haas is also yet to decide whether to accept a wild card.

Tim Henman, Chile's Marcelo Rios, German Nicolas Kiefer and Sweden's Thomas Enqvist are other big name entrants in the Championships.

The Australian Open runs from January 14-27 in Melbourne.