WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- After retiring five years ago, Pete Sampras will play a senior tour event on clay surface in Charlotte that haunted him throughout his record-breaking career this week.

"I didn't think I'd ever play on clay again," Sampras said. "But here I am."

Sampras faces Mikael Pernfors on Wednesday to open the Championships at the Palisades, the third and final event of the year for Sampras in the Outback Champions Series.

And while the surface is green clay, a bit quicker than the red dirt that always stymied Sampras at the French Open, it reminds him of the one trophy missing from a brilliant career.

He decided to return on a limited basis this year on the senior circuit formed by former rival Jim Courier.

Sampras committed to play in Boston, Athens and Charlotte, and has enjoyed it so much he's agreed to play a handful of exhibitions, including a November match in Malaysia against top-ranked Roger Federer.