US OPEN

September 2, 2000

Pete Sampras

MODERATOR: Questions for Pete.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I didn't know what to expect. I'd never seen him play. He's got a big, big serve, and he backs it up with huge groundies. Really caught me off guard. I mean, he came out swinging away. But the game, it's just a sign of the game and how strong it is from the No. 1 guy to wherever you're ranked. I don't know what he's ranked. He's got a good future, good game, really made me work really hard.

PETE SAMPRAS: It was very, very humid, sticky today. The conditions were a little bit breezy down there. I couldn't get any sort of -- I couldn't get his serve back. When I did, he was cracking the ball. The only thing I can do is try to hold on the serve. It came down to a couple of tiebreakers. I stepped it up a little bit, got the one break in the third. You know, he came out playing great, he really did. When I never played him before, never seen him play, it took me a little while to kind of figure him out. Can't really say that I really did figure him out. I just played a couple good breakers and played a pretty solid third set. Just a sign on how strong the game is today.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I was with the wind. It's just confidence and going for it. There have been many times that I've thrown in doubles when I go for big seconds. On that particular point, I just went for it and hit the line. I was with the wind, so that helps.

PETE SAMPRAS: Yes. Kind of a decision you make right before you do it. You hope it works out. You know, I feel like my second serve is one of the best in the game; you might as well use it on a big point like that. I went for it and it hit the line. It was nice.

PETE SAMPRAS: I haven't heard of one thing. Never heard of him. Anyone that's qualified in one match, is playing well, he's going to come out swinging away, like the guy I played today did. I'll hear some things tomorrow, what kind of game he has, just try to figure it out like I did today. Just worry about my game, my serve. Like I said, it's just a sign on how strong the game is today.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, Wimbledon semifinals against the Russian fellow was the last time in a Grand Slam that I played someone that I've never seen play. I can't remember his name.

PETE SAMPRAS: Voltchkov (laughter). It's a little unsettling to have a match like that.

PETE SAMPRAS: I was told that by someone in the locker room after I beat Justin, that it was a lefty that stays back (laughter). He was a righty that hits the ball big. Bad information.

PETE SAMPRAS: I found that out today.

PETE SAMPRAS: No, I knew that. It was bad information.

PETE SAMPRAS: Someone else in the locker room.

PETE SAMPRAS: Paul told me yesterday and today that he's a righty and what he does. I figure that's why I pay him: he's got the right information.

PETE SAMPRAS: I think he's probably heard of me since the third grade. I'm not looking at any sort of personal motivation. I mean, he's playing well. I feel like I'm playing pretty well. I should be ready.

PETE SAMPRAS: There are a number of guys that -- in the locker room that -- the guy I played today, I'd never seen him before. I have seen him. I saw a little bit against Schuttler today. I know what he looks like. I don't remember our meeting.

PETE SAMPRAS: I felt good. It was very, very humid. Over the years, I've had a problem with that. Today I made sure I ate the right foods, went out hydrated. From the first game on, you just start drinking, get the wet towel on yourself, keep cool. I decided not to wear a hat, which is maybe something I'll do on Monday, if it's hot. You know, he was feeling it a little bit. It's just hot, sticky conditions that you hope you can win in straight sets. It was nice to do that.

PETE SAMPRAS: I haven't talked to him. Just said hello to him the first day of the tournament. I haven't seen or spoke to him since.

PETE SAMPRAS: I'm much more confident than I was at Wimbledon. At Wimbledon, I wasn't playing very well, I wasn't practicing, going out there a little bit rusty, kind of getting through these matches. Here I feel like I'm obviously a hundred percent healthy, hitting the ball fine, practicing on my off days. I feel much better than I did at Wimbledon. Wimbledon, I felt a little patchy at times. Here I feel like my game is going, I feel pretty good.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I feel good. I mean, I feel like I'm playing well. It's hard to gauge. This summer, I didn't have the best of summers. I know when to step it up. Obviously the second week of a major is a time when you just step it up a touch. Hopefully I can do that.

PETE SAMPRAS: Get off to a good start, put the pressure on him early. We'll most likely be on the Center Court. I'm sure he'll be fine. He's beaten some good players so far. It's important to get off to a good start and set the tone. That's going to be my goal in the first set.

PETE SAMPRAS: Maybe a touch more relaxed, but always -- I've always felt dangerous every Slam I play. If anything, the pressure might be a little bit off after what happened at Wimbledon. I've done more in the game than I ever thought I would. From here on out, it is a bonus to possibly win here, to win more majors. I never thought I'd win 13. Moving on, I just try to add on to what I have, try to make it 14.

PETE SAMPRAS: Yes.

PETE SAMPRAS: I'm actually staying in the city, which is something -- I was doing that last year, but I was here for about two days (laughter). It's a little bit different, but still I'm in my routine. Coming out tomorrow, having a light hit, getting ready for Monday.

PETE SAMPRAS: There's always traffic.

PETE SAMPRAS: I'll take it with John Rocker (laughter). I don't know what I'm going to do. I hear you have to plan maybe a couple hours. I'll just weigh it up. It won't be bad on Monday because of Labor Day. If I get through, maybe during the week I'll have to take a helicopter or something (smiling).

PETE SAMPRAS: I'm just cooling down after my matches, going out stretched out and warmed up, just being a little bit more aware of my body and making sure it's warmed up. I mean, that's the key for me. I paid the price for going out and taking my body a little bit for granted. Hurting my back I think woke me up to being a little bit more aware of my conditioning, being in better shape.

PETE SAMPRAS: Moose is someone who keeps it fun. We do the runs, but we do other things, play basketball, play football, keep it fun. Also, you know, when it's time to work, we work. It's been getting in a routine of my back exercises and being more disciplined with that. That's one thing he's harped on with me, on my days off here, do something, go for a light jog, stomach exercises, your back. A little bit more discipline on the road, which I haven't really done much.

PETE SAMPRAS: I don't think it's the most intense, it's just being more consistent. I mean, that's the word I'm going to use. I had two days off. On the one day off, go for a run, do a few things here and there to keep in good shape. But, you know, it's time to rest, you rest. But it was time to train. We communicate well. We try to figure out when the next two, three years, however long I play, that I'm in the best shape.

PETE SAMPRAS: I can't relate to that because --.

PETE SAMPRAS: 19, everyone knew me. If anything, that could work to his advantage. Playing against me, he has nothing to lose, have fun. He might be a little nervous at first. We'll see. I mean, I have yet to talk about what type of player he is. He'll come out and he'll play well, I'm sure.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, it's setting goals, you know, going out in an arena like Wimbledon or the US Open, having every eye on you. It's a rush. That's something I'm going to miss when I'm done playing. You set the goal and you work hard and you achieve it. It's the best feeling when you wake up that next morning, after winning a Slam, and you feel great. You have ovations when you go out and play, people respect what you've done in your career. A number of different things make it fun. I love competing. I love playing in the biggest tournaments in the world, with the most pressure. I've always seemed to enjoy that.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, playing Andre here in the final, I think it was '96 (sic). (Actually '95). We were both 1 and 2. Nike was building up our rivalry. That was electricity in the air there. Playing Boris at Wimbledon. Playing Andre at Wimbledon. There have been enough great moments that I've had to write a book. Maybe one day I'll do that.

PETE SAMPRAS: It's been a good first week. I have no complaints on how I'm playing. I feel good, ready to go for the second week. It's just a sign of, like I said before, of how strong the game is, look at the upsets we've had. No matter what you're ranked, you're going to be a threat to beat a stop seed. I feel I'm in contention. That's all I can really ask at this point, is to give myself a chance to maybe do it. It's a lot of work ahead.