TMS - LISBON

November 27, 2000

Pete Sampras

MODERATOR: Questions for Pete.

PETE SAMPRAS: I feel good. I mean, I've been here since Friday. The court is a good court. It's a surface you can stay back or come in on. It's a fair court. I feel like I'm hitting the ball well. Physically I feel fine. Obviously, I haven't played a lot of matches over the past couple months. Hopefully I can find my confidence as the week goes on. It's nice in a format like this, you're able to lose a match, or like last year when I came out, lost a match, ended up winning. It's a nice format for someone that hasn't played much.

PETE SAMPRAS: Pretty easy. I mean, I thought about it. You know, you ask yourself, as far as my goals, what they are. Obviously, at this point it's The Majors. I've been No. 1 for many years. It's not quite the priority that it used to be. Pretty much came down to my goals. I wanted to play Australia. It is a major. I wanted to give myself the best chance to do well there. Take my time off, play here. I don't think it would have been smart to go into Australia not playing at all, so I decided to play here, get ready for Australia.

PETE SAMPRAS: Not necessarily. It really wasn't. I mean, got married, went on a honeymoon. I had plenty of time to get ready to play if I decided to. Not playing had nothing to do with getting married. It's kind of where I'm at in my tennis, what's important, what my priorities are. Ask myself that question. It was pretty much Australia and the commitment I had to a tournament.

PETE SAMPRAS: The motivation is not a problem playing this week because of who's playing. You're playing against the best players in the world. Obviously, I don't think it has a lot of bearing going into next year, but still it's a big week for tennis. Really wasn't a question in my mind if I wasn't going to play here. You're right, I mean, I'm to the point in my career where you want to keep interested and motivated. You know, that's why I decided not to play for a little bit. That's my challenge for the rest of my career, is putting myself in situations that will keep me motivated. Obviously, the Slams will always drive me.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, it's one of them. I made a commitment next year with my schedule, I'm going to play a little bit more on clay. It's the one that I haven't won. I'll do whatever I can to figure it out. I'm going to commit myself and play a lot more week next year compared with this year.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, probably Hamburg, Rome, maybe World Team Cup, maybe Monte-Carlo. I mean, I could play all of them. I don't know -- I'm not sure yet. I will definitely play a lot more.

PETE SAMPRAS: Good question (laughter). About three weeks. You know, I took time off after The Open, got married, went on a nice honeymoon. You know, even throughout that time, I was still training. I wasn't sitting around watching TV all day. You know, about three weeks ago I started hitting some balls. I'm back to where I want to be as far as my timing and rhythm.

PETE SAMPRAS: Just easing into it a little bit. Obviously, as the week goes on, you get more intense. You know, I spent that time off training, working twice a day with Moose, making an effort to get myself in the best possible shape. I had the time, I might as well take advantage of it. The challenge is keeping my motivation there.

PETE SAMPRAS: In Baltimore. I played Todd. It was perfect timing. I don't play many exhibitions. I just got the call because Kournikova pulled out. It was perfect timing.

PETE SAMPRAS: Tuesday.

PETE SAMPRAS: Flew out Thursday, got here Friday.

PETE SAMPRAS: I was replacing (laughter).

PETE SAMPRAS: I feel like I might pull up a little bit sore after my first match. Even though you train hard and practice hard, it's always a little different when you play a match. You know, my goal is hopefully to find my game as the week goes on. There is a chance I could be a little rusty in the beginning. All it takes for me is one set or a couple games to get my confidence there. Certainly I can be a threat.

PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah. It's tough winning five straight matches against the top eight players in the world, you know, for five days in a row. I think the last number of winners here have lost a match. It's not easy to be at that level every day.

PETE SAMPRAS: I'm the first to hear that. I like round numbers.

PETE SAMPRAS: I look up to him and his career. My goal here is to win here. It's also to try to find my game. If I get in a position, I get into the weekend, sure, I'd love to have more than him. It's not the first thing on my mind, you know.

PETE SAMPRAS: You know, just as good as last year. I went into Hannover not having played really since The Open. I came in here and ended up winning. It won't be easy this year. It's always not an easy tournament to win. You know, I have the confidence to do it because I did it last year. You don't like to rely on that every year, but I feel just as good this year as I did last year coming in.

PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, seems like a nice city. Haven't seen much. Pretty much from the hotel, to the courts, back to the hotel. But just driving around, seems a lot of culture, a lot of history here. The people seem like they're very passionate about their tennis. I did a little appearance yesterday in the mall, which was a great turnout.

PETE SAMPRAS: No. Doesn't sound like anything I've heard.

PETE SAMPRAS: Never been to Brazil.

PETE SAMPRAS: As far as the entry?

PETE SAMPRAS: You know, I like the race idea. I like where everyone starts at zero. You just play out the year. Whoever has the most is No. 1. The entry list, that's the only way you can really do it is by that way, using the old system. Looking at the year, Safin has played a lot. He's had a pretty consistent year. He's looking pretty good to possibly finish No. 1.

PETE SAMPRAS: For me and how I look at it, I've always looked at the best year as the person who did best in the Slams. A lot of guys look at consistency and who has won more. In that respect, I think Safin and Kuerten deserve to be up there. But I look back at this year, I always measure my year on the Slams. It all goes hand-in-hand. If you do well at the Slams, you'll be ranked high.

PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah. I mean, counts all the tournaments, the Slam and the other nine, sure, I think it's worked out practically well.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, if I win here, I don't know how it all is going to come out. You know, Safin has had a very consistent year, much more than I have. He's won more tournaments.

PETE SAMPRAS: No.

PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah.

PETE SAMPRAS: Oh, yeah. All these guys are good practice.

PETE SAMPRAS: Sure.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I definitely learned a little bit physically with what happened there. Not to take anything away from the way Safin played, but I must admit the match, the day before against Hewitt, I came out a little bit flat. I felt it physically. Pretty much I realized I needed to start training harder. It's a tough match to go Saturday-Sunday. You wish it would go Friday, have a day to get ready and go out and play well. Not to say -- probably the way he played, he was pretty much unbeatable that day. You know, it's one of those matches where I never played anyone in a big, big match like that that played that well.

PETE SAMPRAS: Similar.

PETE SAMPRAS: Big guy serving 130. Not much you can do. Returning well. You know, one thing nice about playing The Open for a young guy, Saturday, Sunday, you don't have time to think about what you're doing. As you know, that's what happened to me when I was 19. If you have a day to think about it, you could show a little nerve. He really didn't. That being said, he's going to be a great player if he's not already a great player and will be at the top of the game for as long as he wants to be.

PETE SAMPRAS: I don't think experience plays any part in this tournament because everyone has had a great year, been in this situation many times. If anything, not playing a lot, I could be a little vulnerable in the early parts. Once I get through my first match, hopefully I can --.

PETE SAMPRAS: Sure. I mean, guys have played a lot. Kafelnikov just played yesterday. Norman has played a lot. Those guys might come in a little bit tired. But I think guys are going to be fine. They're in good shape, young. It's nice to have those young legs.

PETE SAMPRAS: After The Open?

PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah. That's pretty much why I decided not to play in the fall, was because I always need to go out there with a purpose and a goal. You know, it's trying to find ways to have that. That's why I decided to not play much and play Australia.

PETE SAMPRAS: No, I didn't feel empty. I felt like, you know, getting married, enjoying that time of my life, I wanted to enjoy it. I'm only planning on getting married once, so it was a time to focus on something else in my life. When it came around to start playing again, sure, I'm going to do that.

PETE SAMPRAS: Sure, knowing that I was going to go to Australia, I didn't really like the idea of going in there without having played for two and a half months. Playing Lisbon, it was a perfect schedule. I play here, I go back, do a little bit more training, go down to Australia fresh, in my mind, and wanting to play. That's really the challenge, especially in that event.

PETE SAMPRAS: A big difference. Just growing up.

PETE SAMPRAS: Very green and naive as a youngster. Everything was all brand-new, what just happened. Now I've been out here for 10, 12 years. Kind of a little bit more used to the lifestyle, being famous, backing it up with playing well.

PETE SAMPRAS: When I was 19?

PETE SAMPRAS: Sure.

PETE SAMPRAS: I'm sorry?

PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, you think of different matches you've played over the years. But as time goes by, it becomes kind of like a distant memory - but it's a great memory.

PETE SAMPRAS: No. I mean, I use past games in matches when you're feeling certain things. You can drawback on a match how you felt playing this match or that match. When I played Krajicek at The Open, it reminded me of playing Patrick Rafter at Wimbledon, being down in the tiebreaker. You can draw a bit of experience.

PETE SAMPRAS: I don't know.

PETE SAMPRAS: Must admit, a little bit surprised. I haven't talked to John since The Open. I'm sure he has his reasons why he decided not to do it. I hear a lot of it was the schedule and whatnot. He brought a lot to Davis Cup: experience, notoriety in the US, as far as the media, which is what Davis Cup needs in our country. I think he just felt it was time for him to go.

PETE SAMPRAS: I didn't say that. I'll probably decide after this event and try to finalize my schedule.

PETE SAMPRAS: I thought so. When I first talked to John about the Davis Cup, he looked at kind of a three-year plan being the captain. I was as surprised as anyone else to hear that he decided to resign. But looking ahead, I think there's a lot of good candidates that can do a good job. But John definitely brought a lot of exposure to Davis Cup. We'll see how it plays out.

PETE SAMPRAS: He was one of the names that I've heard.

PETE SAMPRAS: I'm sure it's something that I would have to talk to him about (laughter). He's very qualified. Also Pat McEnroe, I heard Brad Gilbert was in contention.

PETE SAMPRAS: I don't play Davis Cup for the captain. I don't decide to play because of who's the captain. Nothing to do with it.

PETE SAMPRAS: If you look at the schedule, it's hard to follow for the people in the US. I mean, it's playing in different countries different times in the year. I always believed in having a format where you have a little bit more simplified like The Ryder Cup, everyone can focus the attention on it. Tennis is competing with so many other sports. Davis Cup is a great event if it was put together properly.

PETE SAMPRAS: The thing is, with cap -- as captain, you have to play with the players you have and support them. If Andre and I aren't there, he has to support the guys that are there. That's his role as captain, to be there for all your players, not just your top players. I don't know if that's the reason why he decided not to do it. I don't know what the main reason is. I heard more of a scheduling problem. I really don't know.

PETE SAMPRAS: I think Spain is the favorite. Rafter can play well on clay. Hewitt can play well on anything. I think Spain is probably with the slight advantage.

PETE SAMPRAS: What happened at Wimbledon was the way I always dreamt about winning a Slam and possibly breaking the record, having my parents there, sharing with the people that helped get me there. You know, obviously after I won, it hit me, just the emotion of the record, but mainly having my parents there, which is about as good as it's ever going to get for me as an athlete, unless one day I'd win the French. I'd think up till now, it was more than just playing a tennis match and winning Wimbledon, it was more than that to me. It was one of the best moments of my life.

PETE SAMPRAS: Not really.

PETE SAMPRAS: Yes (laughter).

PETE SAMPRAS: No, they're all in the States.

PETE SAMPRAS: I don't want to say I'm disappointed. I was just more surprised than anything. I mean, I haven't talked to John since The Open. I think it would have been nice to talk to him, just to hear from his viewpoint what happened or whatever. You know, it's hard to be disappointed in someone that it's his life and it's what he wants to do. I have no problem with that.

PETE SAMPRAS: He pushed hard.

PETE SAMPRAS: You said it better (laughter).

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, you an a new phase in my personal life. Really looking forward to enjoying being married, settling down, having some kids one day. But still, you know, very much into my tennis and doing that. Just a part of life that I love. I'm going to really enjoy it.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I think they're both very important, personal and professional. It goes hand-in-hand if you're happy in both. It's great. But it was just time for me and my wife, and the right person. I was just ready, and you know when you're ready to join the club.

PETE SAMPRAS: I don't know of any definite number in my mind that will call it a day. As long as I'm enjoying it, I'm in contention for The Majors and I feel like I can play at that level, I'll keep on going.

PETE SAMPRAS: If I feel like I can't play five or seven matches every week, if I'm not playing well, if my mind is not there, you'll just know when it's time, I think.

PETE SAMPRAS: On a show called The Street.

PETE SAMPRAS: Yes.

PETE SAMPRAS: It's about Wall Street.

PETE SAMPRAS: She's in New York for quite some time. Is it a weekly show?

PETE SAMPRAS: Yes.

PETE SAMPRAS: She plays a bit of a vixen. Well, kind of --.

PETE SAMPRAS: I first saw her on the screen. I said it would be nice to meet her.

PETE SAMPRAS: Sure.

PETE SAMPRAS: Oh, yeah.

PETE SAMPRAS: No.

PETE SAMPRAS: No.

PETE SAMPRAS: When you're in love, it's hard, miss my wife now.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, she's been living in New York. I was in LA training. You spend time apart. When she's got time off, we try to make sure we see each other.

PETE SAMPRAS: To wear it?

PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah. I don't know if I'll wear it on the court.

PETE SAMPRAS: Yes.

PETE SAMPRAS: I heard that.

PETE SAMPRAS: I'm learning to appreciate it. Good answer, huh (laughter)?

PETE SAMPRAS: Not really. Being over in England during the World Cup, I happened to watch all the games. It's on about five stations.

PETE SAMPRAS: Lot of football. It's exciting when it's an event that big. You have to watch because you get wrapped up in it.

PETE SAMPRAS: Football, basketball, golf.

PETE SAMPRAS: Yes.

PETE SAMPRAS: No, not really.

PETE SAMPRAS: What he's done, how it does it, it's been phenomenal.

PETE SAMPRAS: For me?

PETE SAMPRAS: I think it's a lot of power, a lot of baseline tennis. Guys are just banging the ball hard. I think the art of serve-and-volleying is pretty much extinct. You look at everyone else that has made me, other than me, they stay back and crack the ball. Rafter, Henman, that's pretty much it. I look at the game turning more to just baseline, everyone just cracking it. Whoever does it better is going to win.

PETE SAMPRAS: It seems to be a nice city. Just flying in a couple days ago, it seems like a city with a lot of history and culture. I've just been around the people a little bit, did an appearance at the mall yesterday. They seem passionate about tennis.

PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah (laughter).

PETE SAMPRAS: I feel pretty good. I can just draw a little bit on what happened last year when I came to Hannover, not really having played since The Open, came out ahead. One thing great about this format, you can get off to a bad start, lose a match, get back into it and maybe win here.

PETE SAMPRAS: Oh, yeah. Just look at the results of the year. They've pretty much dominated, from Safin, Kuerten, Hewitt. They've won most of the titles. That's the future of the game right there, those three or four guys that are great players. They're handling it very well. Andre and I will still be there and be in contention when we're playing well. I feel like when we are playing our best, we are the two best players in the world. But we haven't been as consistent as in years past. I'm sure the young guys with the young legs will get better and better.

PETE SAMPRAS: Three weeks ago is when I first started hitting some balls, get the blisters back, get myself back in shape. I'm sure I'll wake up a little bit sore the next day after I play my first match here. You obviously push a little bit harder in matches. My goal is to just try and get that confidence back. I could be a little bit vulnerable in the beginning. I look at what happened last year and kind of draw on that. It won't be easy, I know that. Guys are playing great.

PETE SAMPRAS: Not playing in the fall had nothing to do with me getting married. It was a career decision that I felt like I wanted to give myself the best chance to do well in Australia. The race, the ranking, you know, I've done that in my career. Still wanting to go out there motivated with a purpose. I wasn't going to do both. I wasn't going to play in the fall and go to Australia. I felt like Australia, you know, that's what I play for. You might think I got married and I'm going on a honeymoon. The honeymoon is over (laughter). It's back to reality, back to getting back out there. It was the right call, it really was. I was home for a little while, training. Just being in some of these tournaments in my mind, I'm glad I made the decision.

PETE SAMPRAS: It's flattering to hear your peers speaking highly of you. I'm sure when Marat is almost 30, like I am, he'll have young guys admiring him like he does to me. I think he's a great player that is a nice person that will just be a credit to the game. Has proven he's got one of the biggest games in the world. It's very flattering to hear. He's coming in here probably the hottest player, just winning Paris. You know, I think he handles it well. He'll come in here and be a threat. It won't be easy for anyone to win here because the competition is that strong. But, you know, look at him and Hewitt, Kuerten, they're the future of the game.

PETE SAMPRAS: Hewitt?

PETE SAMPRAS: Yes, I think it's similar. He's combative, fights hard, very quick. He has those intangibles. Hewitt possesses a pretty big serve, returns well. He will always be in contention for the Slams, he will. I mean, he'll always be in the second week because he's consistent, doesn't play a lot of bad matches. It's a pretty good comparison.

PETE SAMPRAS: Hold Yevgeny, he's a little younger. Yeah, I look at those three players.

PETE SAMPRAS: I haven't really seen him play, but, yeah, can he do it. There's a lot of them, not many, but I look at those three at being the top of the game for the next number of years.

PETE SAMPRAS: No. It's hard to teach what I do. It's something that comes very natural.

PETE SAMPRAS: I don't.

PETE SAMPRAS: Maybe a little bit. I don't think I'll go into that field.

PETE SAMPRAS: People ask me about it all the time. I don't have anything set in stone. Pretty much I can do whatever I want. That's a nice thing.

PETE SAMPRAS: I can choose to do what I want. I always will need to be working on something, doing something being active. I can't just sit home and watch TV.

PETE SAMPRAS: I mean, tennis I know. It's hard to say I'll desert it.