新闻英语精解【68】桑普拉斯永别江湖

Sampras says goodbye

【参考译文】桑普拉斯告别网坛

NEW YORK (AFP) - Pete Sampras formally confirmed his retirement from competitive tennis here, saying after an unprecedented 14 Grand Slam singles titles that "I know in my heart it's time".

【参考译文】曾经14次夺得大满贯赛单打冠军的皮特-桑普拉斯正式确认退出网坛，他表示：“我心里清楚，确实是放弃网球的时候了。”

【讲解】retirement,Withdrawal from one's occupation, business, or office. 退休，退职。从某人的职业、事业或公职中的退出。

grand slam，The winning of all the major or specified events, especially on a professional circuit. 大满贯，全胜，在所有重大的或特定的赛事中获胜，尤指在职业巡回赛上。

Two weeks past his 32nd birthday, Sampras spoke before a US Open farewell ceremony saying he has no desire to make a comeback.

【参考译文】桑普拉斯今年32岁，他的生日刚刚过去两周。桑普拉斯在公开告别仪式上表示，自己没有打算再回来。

【讲解】farewell的意思是离别，通常用于修饰另一个名词，如a farewell party; a farewell glance.告别晚会；离别时的一瞥。常见的习惯用语有bid farewell/ take farewell,告别, 辞行。

comeback，A return to formerly enjoyed status or prosperity. 恢复有利的地位或成功的恢复。在这里指的是复出的意思。例如：The film star made an unexpected comeback.明星出乎预料的复出了。

Sampras win Andre Agassi 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in last year's US Open final. It turned out to be the last match he would ever play, although he had not announced such plans until last week.

【参考译文】在去年美国公开网球赛上，桑普拉斯以四局6-3/6-4/5-7/6-4的比分战胜美国网坛高手安德烈阿加西。虽然桑普拉斯直到上周才决定退役，但美网赛将成为他的最后一次比赛。

Sampras finished atop the rankings for an unprecedented six consecutive years from 1993 through 1998 and won seven titles in eight years at Wimbledon from 1993 to 2000. But he was never able to complete a career Slam by winning the French Open

【参考译文】桑普拉斯曾在1993至1998期间连续6次获得冠军，在1993至98年8年期间获得七次温网冠军。但可惜的是他一直未能在法国公开赛上称雄。

consecutive，Following one after another without interruption, successive. 连续的,一个跟一个不中断的；连续的： absent on three consecutive days; won five consecutive games on the road.接连三天都缺席；一路上连续赢了五场比赛。虽然这个词很常用，但是它指在两个顺序事件之间没有插入任何其它事件，可以对照sequential、参阅concurrent、simultaneous加以比较。

title在本文中指的是A championship.冠军。title match，锦标赛。

slam在本文中首字母大写，它的意思是The winning of all the tricks or all but one during the play of one hand in bridge and other whist-derived card games. 满贯，全盛。