COMPAQ GRAND SLAM CUP

December 6, 1994

Pete Sampras

PETE SAMPRAS: I just went to Florida on Monday after Frankfurt, and left Wednesday for L.A., spent Thanksgiving in Los Angeles with my family; came back to Florida on Monday and started practicing on Wednesday. So I have only been really been here the past four, five days. Other than that, I was in L.A. I didn't pick up a racket; just slept a lot, ate a lot; watched all the ball games; watched the Cowboys beat the Packers, which was great, so that is what I did, really.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I mean, I am not going to forget how to play. Obviously, I played quite well at Frankfurt, so I definitely didn't want to come over here; fly across, you know, half the world and go through the motions. I wanted to prepare well; got here on Sunday. I thought I played pretty well today. I didn't play great by any means, so I wasn't really worried about the fact that I haven't practiced too much. I figured once I get out there and it all kind of would come back to me, and I think it did for the most part.

PETE SAMPRAS: Any nightmares? I thought about it, sure. When I saw the draw I was thinking obviously this is a good opportunity to get back at him because the Open was -- I saw him for four hours. That was a bit too long for me, so -- and the court is playing so fast that it really helps my game out. And so I definitely will get back at him.

PETE SAMPRAS: I don't think it is very fast. I think it is very, very, very fast.

PETE SAMPRAS: Absolutely. I mean, there is an altitude here about 900 meters, which is, I don't know, 1700 feet. And the court is the same court they have had since I have been playing here, and every year I just tell them it would be better tennis to watch and to play if they slow it down and each year it just seems like it is the same fast court which I really like in a lot of ways and I don't like because it is tough to return. It is tough to hit groundstrokes. Obviously, it is good for my serve and volley game, but I like the court a bit slower.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, it is different, but it is in the same type of, I guess, atmosphere. I mean, it is kind of the same realm of speed as far as either -- basically the strokes are the same out there, pretty short swings. You need to get to the net as soon as possible, so I mean, I would compare it to grass court.

PETE SAMPRAS: I think so. I think the first year obviously was much more political; a lot of the top guys didn't play, but now I think everyone is more or less committed to play. So I think the politics of the whole Grand Slam Cup, ATP Finals, I think, is kind of behind us.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I am not treating this like an exhibition. I am treating this as -- I am not going to be satisfied with nothing, but a win. It is not the same as a Wimbledon, but I want to play well. I want to win, because obviously. We all know there is a lot of prize money to be won; a little extra Christmas shopping, so it is always nice.

PETE SAMPRAS: I don't know. I think it is pretty much pretty well received by the fans. Each year a lot more people are coming, I don't know -- all the top guys are playing, so I think I think those are the two main components of a good event.

PETE SAMPRAS: I feel fine, yeah.