WIMBLEDON

June 25, 2001

Pete Sampras

MODERATOR: No need to introduce Pete Sampras.

PETE SAMPRAS: For England this time of year, yes, it was very warm.

PETE SAMPRAS: Last time I remember it being this warm was the '93 final against Courier where it was similar. So it was quite hot.

PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah. He's a crafty player. He definitely knows how to play on grass. You know, served pretty well. He came in quite a bit. He had that good backhand slice that is tough to pass on. But I was pretty happy the way I was controlling the points, the way I was serve and volleying. I had chances in the second, Love-30 a couple times, got a little safe. But he competes well, he moves well. You know, I knew going into the match I was going to have to work hard - and I did.

PETE SAMPRAS: There were some shaky ones - on both sides. It's going to happen when the ball is being hit that hard. But there are obviously ones that were very questionable.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, the court at Queen's, the week before, is a little bit harder. The court out there today is like it always is the first day, it's very slippery. They don't allow any tennis on there. It was tough to move out there. Lost my footing a couple times. But compared to the outside courts where they allow practise on it, the stadium, I knew coming in my movement was going to be a little bit suspect - and it was. I slipped a few times. You know, first day out there, it's going to be slippery.

PETE SAMPRAS: There's no question, you walk out there, after winning it last year, you come back, the first match out, the tradition they have here, you feel that. The ovation I got when I walked out was nice. Also walking off the court. It's always a pleasure playing out there. I love the court. You know, when I step out there, I draw a lot of memories from all the tough matches that I've gotten through. So it was nice to be out there.

PETE SAMPRAS: Not really (smiling).

PETE SAMPRAS: You mention him on those interviews we do after the match. I still don't know who he is (laughter). No, seven-time champion?

PETE SAMPRAS: He had it easier back then because he just had to play one match. I wish that was the case today.

PETE SAMPRAS: Play one match and win it again? Yes and no. One match, you could also be a little rusty.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, obviously, you hear things, who I might play later on. But you can't look that far ahead. I look forward to my next match, whoever that may be. I try to figure him out, what I need to do out there. You know, you can't look ahead in today's game. Too many good players that can knock you off. There's no reason to look at the quarters or semis or beyond. You just get ready for your second round.

PETE SAMPRAS: I don't look at it like that, on who's where in the draw. I feel like if I'm playing well and I take care of my business, I don't mind playing anybody. It really doesn't affect me, who I play. Obviously, you look at the threats here. You have Henman and Rafter, Andre. But you can't look that far ahead.

PETE SAMPRAS: I've never had any doubts. I played okay at Queen's. Obviously, the year has been a little bit of a downer. But I can turn that around very quickly here, like I've done over the years. It's nice to get through the first match. It's always one you want to get through. I feel like I've got a pretty good chance.

PETE SAMPRAS: First game.

PETE SAMPRAS: Yes.

PETE SAMPRAS: You mean, the trip?

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I had quite a lot of time because I lost pretty early. But there was no sense of coming to London too early. I went home, chilled out a little bit, went to that one game. I got back over here on Friday.

PETE SAMPRAS: Unfortunately, yeah.

PETE SAMPRAS: It's not true. I remember talking to Jim in an interview for TNT. It was a conversation that we were just having about one day I might stop, how I would want to do it. Whoever took it, took it the wrong way, that this may be my last year. It's totally false. To end my career, sure, I'd love to go out there and win it one last time - this year, next year, five years from now. I plan on coming back for many years.

PETE SAMPRAS: Very similar. Semis of the US Open. I was trying to get into the stadium. I couldn't get in because of the president. I knew he was there. When you go out and compete, you don't think about who's watching. The middle of the match, he came out, gave a wave. He got a few boos. In Paris, I heard he got cheered. It can set you off for a minute, but you get down to business, go out and play.

PETE SAMPRAS: I didn't see what happened. I heard about it. Andre's a great player. He can handle all different situations. I wouldn't think it would set him off that much. But, you know, when you see the president or the former president there watching, it shouldn't affect you, I wouldn't think. But I really don't know.

PETE SAMPRAS: Sure, sure. If you're thinking about who's watching you, who's coming into the stadium and leaving, it can set you off. The only thing that you should be focused on is who you're playing, what you're trying to do out there. You lose your concentration for just ten minutes, it can change the whole match. Just got to be careful.

PETE SAMPRAS: My first match was against Todd Woodbridge on one of the outside courts, I think it was at Aorangi (laughter), Court 18, I don't know where it was. At that point I didn't like the grass. I just didn't like it. I didn't enjoy playing on the stuff. This is where I thought I'd make my break as a young guy. Andy, at the same age, I think he's got a little more experience maybe. I was trying to make my way in the rankings. All of a sudden, Andy, he's doing very well. But I'm sure he's going to come out a little nervous. When you've got that serve, that weapon, he's going to be tough to beat. Grass is a different game out there. It's tougher to return. He's got good hands. He'll adapt very well.

PETE SAMPRAS: I practised with Taylor in LA. We talk occasionally. I haven't seen him much here.

PETE SAMPRAS: Not necessarily. I'm not one that's going to sit down with someone and give them my advice. If he asks for it, sure, I'll try to help out the young guys. Taylor and I practised in LA. I think he takes a lot out of that. He definitely has a big game, he's got a lot of potential.

PETE SAMPRAS: Once they start playing each other, once their careers get better and better, if one day they reach the top of the game, it gets more difficult to have that bond. I think Andre, Jim and I, Michael all got along very well. We were all at the top of the game. Things will change as they get older and better; it gets more and more competitive. They're very young. They're just going to deal with the changes of their relationships. Right now they're young enough to kind of go out and have fun, play each other and practise against each other. But once you're 1, 2 in the world, things obviously change.

PETE SAMPRAS: It's different. The Americans have kind of more or less always been on their own. You're right, the Australians, the Spanish guys, more of a bond. That's just the nature of the US being a very big country and everyone kind of going their separate ways. That's the way it's always been.

PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, I was. i was a little surprised. Growing up, I obviously went to the one hand, serve and volleying. I felt this was the one place I was going to break through. I just realised it was a lot more difficult than I thought. It was easy to serve and volley. But in order to win here, I needed to change a few things in my strokes, I needed to start returning better. Obviously, the biggest shot on grass court is the return. That was one thing I had to improve when I came back over the years. You know, it was a struggle - more of a mental struggle, because I kind of had a negative attitude towards grass. It wasn't till I started working with Tim that he helped me out mentally, changed a few things here and there with my strokes, my return especially, shorten it up. Everything kind of exploded.