Tuesday, August 07, 2001
Struggling Sampras scoffs at retirement talk
By Michael Perry
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Don't tell Pete Sampras he's finished.
(Michael E. Keating photos)
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MASON — Pete Sampras went into Wimbledon in June favored to win his fifth consecutive title there. After his fourth-round loss to Swiss 19-year-old Roger Federer, he was asked whether he would return next year. And so began the retirement talk.
“It's gotten a little carried away,” Sampras said. “I wouldn't call it annoying quite yet. I've been patient with it so far.
“There's no time to panic about where I'm at right now. It's been a disappointing year, but I look forward to playing for a bunch more years and contend for Slams and win some more. There's no doubt I can do that.”
The questions arise for these reasons: Sampras turns 30 Sunday. He was married last September to actress Bridgette Wilson.
He has not won a tournament since Wimbledon last year. He has gone 13 months and 14 events without a title, his longest drought since 1990. And, Sampras is in jeopardy of not winning at least one Grand Slam for the first time since 1992.
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TODAY'S GUIDE
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• Schedule, results
• Tickets: 11 a.m., 7 p.m. ($18). Call 651-0303 or TicketMaster at 562-4949.
• Television: 1-3 p.m., ESPN (live)
• The bracket
• Ladies Day: There is a brunch featuring the modeling of sportswear and designer-label fashions. It costs $18 for the brunch, $34 for the brunch and that day's matches. Call 651-0303 for information.
• High School Tennis Day: There will be an on-court clinic and Skyline Chili lunch for $18 a person, including the day's matches ($16 a person for groups larger than 10; $14 for groups larger than 20). Call 651-0303 for information.
• More Masters facts
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The three-time winner of the Tennis Masters Series Cincinnati, who is scheduled to play Nicolas Lapentti today, is seeded ninth here — the lowest seed since '90.
He is 21st in the ATP Champions Race.
“I just feel I'm judged at a very high standard, probably more than anyone else in the game,” Sampras said. “There's definitely a sense of, "What's going on?' The
talk of retirement's come up in the past three months more than it ever has.
“Whenever I've had subpar years, I've always had Wimbledon kind of save my year. And this year, I felt like I was on my way to possibly doing it again and then lost a tough match.”
Sampras certainly has set the bar high. He holds records for most Grand Slam titles (13) and most consecutive times ending the year at No.1 (six).
Sampras' bride, actress Bridgette Wilson, at the ATP Tennis Center.
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“People have gotten a little carried away with "What's wrong with Pete?'” fellow American Todd Martin said. “Until Wimbledon, he was the only guy in two Grand Slam finals in the last 52 weeks. I feel that's a pretty good record.
“People ask: Why is he not the best player in the world anymore? It's the easiest question in the world to answer. Somebody else is better than him. I'm impressed that he hasn't been at all defensive. His character on the court's not changing.”
Tim Henman, who achieved his first career victory over Sampras in Cincinnati last year, said talk of his demise may further fuel Sampras to work harder.
“I'm sure he's as keen as ever to try to prove the people wrong who are doubting him,” Henman said.
Sampras' last Grand Slam title not on grass was in 1997. Andre Agassi has passed him for most Tennis Masters Series titles with 12 (Sampras has 11).
Marat Safin defeated Sampras in the finals of the 2000 U.S. Open, a rarity. Sampras has lost only two other times in a Grand Slam championship match (1995 Australian Open to Andre Agassi, 1992 U.S. Open to Stefan Edberg).
After finishing with the top ranking in 1998 with a 61-17 record, Sampras cut back his playing schedule and said he was no longer concerned with being No.1.
His focus is on the four Grand Slam events and his schedule is designed to have him peak going into the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open.
“Where guys used to really fear playing him, a lot of these younger guys are more looking forward to playing Pete than they have in the past,” said former Davis Cup captain Tom Gullikson, whose late brother Tim used to coach Sampras. “He certainly has the ability. He certainly knows how to win. It's just a matter of does he want to do it?”
“It's very confusing to know what to think about him,” ESPN analyst Cliff Drysdale told USTA Magazine. “He's worked like a slave for so long. His mind doesn't seem entirely on tennis the way it used to be.”
Said Sampras: “Sure, life is a little different now at 30 than it was at 20, but it's a sign of just maturity and growing up. Tennis is still a big focus, but it's not the end-all and be-all of my life like it kind of used to be, which really didn't give me a good balance.”
Sampras finished 2000 at No.3 in the ATP Champions Race — behind Safin and No.1 Gustavo Kuerten.
He is just 22-12 this year, with losses to then-No. 96 Chris Woodruff in Memphis, then-No.119 Andy Roddick in Miami and then-No.76 Galo Blanco at the French Open. Sampras has advanced to the finals of only two tournaments, losing to Agassi at the Tennis Masters Series Indian Wells (Calif.) and in Los Angeles nine days ago.
“I'm sure he has a different perspective on things,” Martin said. “The biggest difference is guys understand, 1, it's possible to beat him; 2, how to beat him; and 3, everybody's a lot better than they were three, four years ago and now some of them are beating him.”
Opponents take to the court believing they have a chance to beat Sampras, which rarely was the case from 1993-98, when he finished No.1.
One of his greatest frustrations, he said, is he believes he is putting in more time training off the court than ever in order to keep up with younger players.
“I feel like definitely, week-in and week-out, it is tougher to win,” Sampras said. “The competition is tougher than it was maybe five years ago. But when I'm playing well and my game's there, sure, there's no question I can win here. I can win the U.S. Open.
“I know I control my own destiny. If I play well then I should win. That's always how I kind of looked at my game. I've had a few more bad days this year than over the years, but that can change pretty quickly over the next couple of weeks.”
Sampras enjoys married life
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Struggling Sampras scoffs at retirement talk
