Sampras to face Safin in exhibition during SAP Open

 Pete Sampras will face former world No. 1 player Marat Safin in an exhibition during the SAP Open on Feb. 18.

Safin was granted a wild-card entry into the tournament Thursday. He will start his week by playing the exhibition against Sampras in a rematch of the 2000 U.S. Open final won by Safin in straight sets. Safin has won four of his seven career matches against Sampras.

Sampras, who retired after winning his record 14th major singles title at the 2002 U.S. Open, spent the past two summers playing in World Team Tennis events and participated on a limited basis this year on the senior circuit formed by former rival Jim Courier.

Sampras played a series of exhibition matches against Roger Federer late last year, winning the final of the three matches. Sampras will play Federer again at Madison Square Garden in New York on March 10.

Safin will play in San Jose for the second straight year. He lost in the quarterfinals last year to Benjamin Becker of Germany.