AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 21, 2001

Pete Sampras

THE MODERATOR: First question, please.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, about 3-all in the second to the rest of the match he was the better player. I mean, he just returned and served about as well as he's ever done. He was utilizing the body, served into my forehand, got some points off there. Returned great. Todd's got one of the best returns in the game, and he's got those two weapons that are so big in tennis that he was just on in both areas. Didn't miss much, just he played a great match. I give him all the credit in the world. I didn't feel like I played poorly. I feel like I played fine. You know, he just served huge. He really, you know, 15-30 points, love-15 points, he always kind of got that first serve in. I always felt like I was under pressure in my service games. He just played better than I did today.

PETE SAMPRAS: I just follow the same strategy. There's not a ton of strategy when you play Todd. It's all hit and miss tennis. You know, I played Todd so close. I've had my fair share of wins. Today I just -- he just played at a high level, I mean, throughout. Like I said, from the second set at 3-all to the rest of the match. I, you know, played some good serves on break points, he came up with some huge returns. You know, he played great. That's the best he's played against me in many years.

PETE SAMPRAS: I felt like my body was feeling good today. I felt fine physically. I got through some tough matches and felt like if I can get my game going today, possibly get into the second week, I can be dangerous. But I just ran into a great player in Todd. I mean, he really played well. I give him all the credit. You know, I could have played better, but I think we have to look at the match and look at how well he played.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I was trying. I mean I was, you know, I felt like I was definitely into it and focused on what I was trying to do. But, you know, it's tough when he's popping in aces. But I felt fine. I mean, I felt like -- I feel like if I could have gotten a break there, I had a break point there at one point, it could have changed the whole complexion of the match. He just won the big points today. But I felt like I was moving fine, I had energy, I just ran into a hot player.

PETE SAMPRAS: Just a sign of how well he served. I mean he really, you know, even his second serve, he was bouncing up pretty high on my backhand. It was tough to get control of the point. When he gets that first serve in, he was picking the corners and mixing it up, I never really felt like I got a good read on it. Using the body to serve well on a pretty quick court, that's a tough serve to get back especially when he's 6'6" and can pop it pretty good. He played great.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, no, it's disappointing. It's not the way I wanted to start off the year. I won't say I learned a lesson. I mean, I was given a lesson. I felt like I just got outplayed. I don't think a lesson needs to be learned. I just lost a tennis match. I mean that's the way it goes. It's disappointing. You know, I just get ready for my next tournament.

PETE SAMPRAS: No.

PETE SAMPRAS: I feel very eager to keep on going. I feel like I can still win majors, and I'd like to win a couple more before it's all said and done. I know I can do it. It's disappointing not to do it here, but I've got many years and many Slams ahead of me.

PETE SAMPRAS: I go home and, you know, get ready for my next tournament. And there's not really much at this point to do, you know, except just go home and get over the loss and start to get back into the training and get back at it.

PETE SAMPRAS: No.

PETE SAMPRAS: I mean, I don't know what I could have done. I felt like I was serving well and hitting big second serves. You know, he just got off to a pretty good rhythm. You know, I don't know what I could have done. I think I needed him to drop off a little bit and maybe miss a few serves and, you know, he only hit 12 errors today. That's solid tennis. I mean, this is the best Todd's played against me in quite a while. I mean I just give him all the credit. He just played better than I did. I didn't feel like I played poorly; I thought I played fine. He was just a better player today.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, it's -- it can be a different match. Andre obviously returns very well, and -- but the way Todd played today, depending on the conditions and when they play during the day, I think Todd's got a very good shot. He always plays Andre well. You know, Andre is the favorite, but I look at it as a pretty close match, the way Todd's playing now. And the fact that he's confident, you know, he'll be a threat through the whole tournament.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I always have blisters when I play down here. It wasn't bothering me today.

PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, I'm playing more than I did last year. I'm going to play Rome and Hamburg and maybe Dusseldorf and be in Europe quite a while before I play the French.

PETE SAMPRAS: I'd prefer to wait, but I don't mind surprises. (Laughter.)