US OPEN

September 4, 2000

Pete Sampras

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, a little bit. In the first set, it's always difficult playing someone I've never seen play, and obviously I've never played him. So, you know, he came out playing well. He wasn't overwhelmed by the situation, playing me on center court. He came out and held his own. You know, but after I got the first set, I started to settle down and started playing a little bit better and just went from there to deal with the rain. And then coming back, dealing with the wind and the cool weather, it was a completely different match from the first set. But it's just always, you know, it's like a batter, if he's seeing a pitcher he's never seen. It takes you a little while to feel it out. Fortunately, I got that first set, which was nice.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, no. It's -- the ranking is -- I don't look at the ranking, I look at who I'm playing, who he's beaten. He's in the fourth round of the Open. You can't look at the ranking, what it says on paper, you can't take any match for granted in today's game. And I thought I played pretty well. I didn't play a great first set, but I got through it, but I got better as the match went on. So I feel confident and good about the win.

PETE SAMPRAS: That's the key to the match, who puts more pressure on the service games. Obviously Richard's got a huge serve and backs it up with good volleys, a tough guy to pass. It's going to come down to the return of serve, who puts more pressure on the second serve. Hopefully, I can get a hold of his serve and make him play and, you know. But it's not an easy match. The court's playing pretty quick. It's going to be tough to break. But, you know, he's confident against me, he's played well against me over the years. So it won't be an easy match.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, in the Cincinnati match?

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, it's tough because you feel like you should make it. But once you start making them and being safe, he volleys great. So then you start overplaying and hitting it a little bit harder, start missing some. It's a fine line. It's just a matter of making him play as much as possible and putting the pressure on him. If he's going to hit low volleys, great, you know, it's too good. But, you know, it's a match that's gonna come down to a couple of points. We're both gonna hold serve most of the time, and you know, he's a great player. When he's on, he's tough to beat.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, either way. You know, if I'm playing well, it doesn't matter - three, five or seven. It doesn't really matter. I just hope it's not that windy like it was tonight.

PETE SAMPRAS: Oh, no. I had no idea. I was going back for the next point. Then the umpire said, "First set." I don't know what happened. What did happen?

PETE SAMPRAS: His foot hit the net? So it's a little odd.

PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah.

PETE SAMPRAS: I don't know about a final point, but I think I played Justin -- I don't know who I played. Maybe at Wimbledon, Justin might have tripped and hit the net or something. (Laughter.)

PETE SAMPRAS: No. I mean it's not unusual. You knew he was on the one hand going to be a little bit nervous playing his match, but once he settled down he was going to go out and have some fun. He did that, he hit some good shots. The match against Voltchkov I played at Wimbledon semifinals, same type of thing. You just try to figure it out. At least on Wednesday I'll know what to expect. But it's gonna be a big game to try to break down.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, you don't really think of it, the record. It's just someone that's got a big game. You just try to figure it out. And beating him the last time, I think he beat me five times in a row, then I finally broke through and I beat him in Cincinnati. That's a nice win to have going into the match. But will it have an impact on the match? It's hard to say. I'm just more concerned about, you know, trying to get his game under control, and that's my goal.

PETE SAMPRAS: No. Not really. It really doesn't. It's a big match, it's quarterfinals. It's anxious moments if I'm playing Richard or -- doesn't matter. But it's a big match, so I'll be ready.

PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, when he's on, you know, he's, you know, he's Top 5, Top 10. I don't know what he's ranked at the moment, but I think we all know Richard has been on the top of the game and has won a Slam. And he, you know, we know that he possesses some heavy heat. And, you know, hopefully I can control it and get his serve back. That's really the biggest point in the match, is the return.

PETE SAMPRAS: Oh, geez. Just have some Chinese food every now and again. No, I haven't.

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