THE LIPTON CHAMPIONSHIPS

March 24, 1996

Pete Sampras

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, you know, it's pretty difficult for both. You serve and volley. The ball is really moving. It's tough to hit passing shots. I don't think it really favors any particular player. I think someone that has a pretty short backswing, like Michael Chang, my swings are pretty long. It depends on how you hit the ball. Short, compact swing is a good shot for the wind, more than if you serve and volley or stay back. You know, you just have to keep your feet moving and hope it dies down. It's not very fun to play in conditions that you're not sure where the ball is going or where your toss is going, whatever. You know, it's -- you've got to go out with a good attitude. It's the same for both players - hope for the best.

PETE SAMPRAS: It doesn't matter. You know, with the daytime, the time I played yesterday and today, you know, you had the wind and on part you had the sun to deal with, kind of tossing all around and hope that your racquet hits the ball.

PETE SAMPRAS: Not really. There's not a lot of wind in the LA area. I've been in Florida four or five years. I'm not crazy about playing in the wind. My results in the past couple years at the Lipton, where it's always pretty breezy, is pretty good. Stadium court, it's tough because it's not going one direction; bounces here; bounces there; swirling around; you're not sure which way it's going. I hit a lob today against the wind, I thought -- it ended up going about 15 feet out. It's hard to deal with sometimes.

PETE SAMPRAS: I think this is known for pretty windy conditions.

PETE SAMPRAS: Palm Springs sometimes, but it's pretty calm. I think because we're right next to the ocean, it's always a little bit breezy. I can't think of a tournament other than this that has the consistent breeze day in and day out.

PETE SAMPRAS: Certain places I play well, and this is one of them. I certainly hope that continues this week. I enjoy playing on an outdoor hard court, even though it's a little breezy here, I seem to come through my matches pretty well. Today wasn't pretty tennis, but I fought pretty well and hung in there. Lipton has treated me pretty well in the past three years, to get to the final three times in a row; have two wins; you can always look back at Lipton as a place I like playing.

PETE SAMPRAS: It's very convenient. The stadium is a great stadium. It's very easy to get around the grounds. I think it's one of the best tournaments on the Tour. US Open is a whole other level as far as convenience is concerned - not very convenient. I've always enjoyed the Lipton. I think a lot of players, with the new stadium and the locker rooms, the small things go a long way. It's an event I always look forward to playing.

PETE SAMPRAS: It's gotten a lot better, I believe, ever since that Sports Illustrated article came out: "Is Tennis Dying." Everybody came out; try to figure out what's wrong with the game. Trying to get the kids playing again, the ATP Tour has gotten behind that with Smash Tennis. I've seen a lot of top guys be a part of that. Marketing -- and Nike, certainly, and other companies are trying to get tennis on TV. Obviously, the major tournaments, that's going to be your main attention, but it seems like with the crowds here, the crowds in Palm Springs, throughout the Tour, they seem very successful week in, week out. I played the final in San Jose against Andre, packed house, 15,000. When you see that, tennis is on the rise.

PETE SAMPRAS: Not really. I know the Tour has tried to help out fans as far as moving in and out, not being so restrictive as far as walking around. I really don't find there's a huge difference over the past couple of years.

PETE SAMPRAS: I'm looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to seeing the Dream Team, seeing some other events.

PETE SAMPRAS: Play tennis? That's secondary. (laughter). Barcelona, I can honestly say, I didn't have a great time because I was playing tennis every day and I didn't get to really feel the Olympic feeling that you look forward to feeling. I'm going to go to Atlanta with an attitude that I'm going to try to win the gold, but I'm going to try to make an effort to see some other events. I might go to the opening ceremonies and try to have a better time than I did in Barcelona. It was so hot and it was also on clay which wasn't all that fun. I'm looking forward to Atlanta.

PETE SAMPRAS: I was playing every day.

PETE SAMPRAS: I'm going to have some days off. I'm not going to play doubles. I can maybe see some other events; get there a little early. The Olympics, I got there on Monday and I played on Tuesday, so it was pretty much as soon as I lost the singles and doubles, I was on the next plane home. In Atlanta, I'm going to make an effort to see other things.

PETE SAMPRAS: Australia is the hottest place I've ever played, by far. It's ridiculous down there.

PETE SAMPRAS: I've experienced the humidity.

PETE SAMPRAS: That's something that has made it more popular. The ingredients are there; the way we play; the way we act. Our life-styles are so different. People outside of tennis are interested in seeing what's going on with my match-ups against him. Certainly, the commercials have helped out quite a bit. Just to get tennis on TV is the main thing. Seems like with the crowds and the TV ratings, seems like over the past couple years, it's really started to increase. It's good to see that.

PETE SAMPRAS: No. I'm not that smart, so.....

PETE SAMPRAS: I haven't talked to him about it really.

PETE SAMPRAS: Since January, I believe.

PETE SAMPRAS: It was quick. Only took a couple hours to do it. Just drank some ice cream. They put some concoction together and I had a moustache.

PETE SAMPRAS: I'm trying to remember. It's like a combination of cheese and ice cream. It's true. (laughter). Didn't taste too bad, actually.

PETE SAMPRAS: In New York.

PETE SAMPRAS: It's never monotonous when I walk out on the court against him. It's always a little bit different. Once the first point has started, it's just the ball, and the opponent is just another opponent. Andre certainly has a game that gives me some problems. I have a game that gives him some problems. It's a good match up if we're both playing real well. Had some good matches over the past couple years. We'll see what happens for this year.

PETE SAMPRAS: It's hard for me to say. I only played him one time at San Jose. I played one of the best matches I've played in a couple years - kind of zoned. I haven't played him really in quite a while since San Jose. It's hard for me to tell because I haven't seen him play. Looking back, maybe over the past eight months, I think the US Open, our match took a little bit out of him. He had such an unbelievable summer, unbelievable year, to come up short at a final - I know when you lose a final of a major, there's no worse feeling than that feeling. Maybe that took a little bit out of him. If I would have lost that match, who knows how I'll be feeling. You just have to move on. He's got the talent and the capability. He just needs -- he's playing well; winning - that's the bottom line. It's been a little bit different. I was a little surprised he lost to Michael in the Australian. It's hard to say. It's tough to keep that consistency for a lot of years and a lot of months. There are days you just don't feel like playing.

PETE SAMPRAS: It is. In a way, it's good to see that. Last year at this time, it was getting a little bit much. Talking more about Andre than I was talking about my tennis. Michael has had a phenomenal year. Goran has been very consistent. Becker won the Australian. Good to see some other guys get more attention; not just Andre and myself. Got a little out of hand there. I don't really feel the heat, you know. I'm to the point in my career where really the major titles is the only thing that's really going to make it better. Certainly would be nice to get back to No. 1 and all those good things, but right now, it's playing well here and get the French Open in the back of my mind.

PETE SAMPRAS: I couldn't agree more.

PETE SAMPRAS: The Lipton is a Grand Slam feel. It gives you a test on how you're really playing. Unfortunately, each match gets tougher here. Look at the field here, except for maybe Becker not playing, it's pretty solid. It's a true test to see how you're at; where you're at; how your game is.

PETE SAMPRAS: It's different. It's a little bit different. You know, I've always felt going into a major, you get the butterflies rolling; you want to get through that first round match. Sometimes through the ATP Tours, a week kind of rolls into another week. When you walk out in the center court of Wimbledon, the Open, you know what's at stake. I'm trying harder at other tournaments. I want to win every match I play.

PETE SAMPRAS: I'm looking to play well and winning, but you're playing the best players in the world, they're all here. It's a good indication of where you're at in your game.

PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, I bought my first car.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I didn't buy a car. I was given cars.

PETE SAMPRAS: I had a car, but I didn't buy it.

PETE SAMPRAS: They were new.

PETE SAMPRAS: I don't think the Porsche people really wanted to give me a car.

PETE SAMPRAS: Right.

PETE SAMPRAS: Actually I've bought a Toyota 4 Runner. I have a couple of cars.

PETE SAMPRAS: There is no substitute.

PETE SAMPRAS: What did they give to him?