COMPAQ GRAND SLAM CUP

December 8, 1993

Pete Sampras

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I played more golf the last couple of weeks than I have tennis, so it is getting better.

PETE SAMPRAS: Beginning Love-40 game, I got through it okay, but you know, he started getting on my serve a little bit better. I started mixing it up in the middle of the first and all the way through the rest of the match. I really felt like if I hit the one down the middle he really had no chance to get it back. I was a bit surprised how well I played today considering I only practiced two, three hours the last couple of weeks, so it is good to get through it.

PETE SAMPRAS: My lowest --I don't understand.

PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, that is -- the main improvement is my consistency and when I am not playing well, I seem to get through those matches and I feel like my new coach Tim Gullikson has really instilled me practicing much harder and instead of practicing three hours and not that intense, practice an hour and a half and really work hard and so I think that just carries over in my matches. And you know, the harder you work, the luckier you get. I really believe that. The year has just basically gotten better and better, the last couple of months. The No. 1 ranking was something I wanted to achieve. I got it in Antwerp, so you know, it is a year that you know, I will always remember.

PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, decided to play Qatar which doesn't give me really time off. I am taking the week off before the Australian Open to train; get used to the court and last year I played a little bit too much. I played in Sidney, played five days in a row and I just got a bit tired at the end there losing to Stefan in the semis. I don't have too much time to recover. I have three weeks off and I go to Qatar, but the week off before the Australian, I feel hopefully will help me out in the long run, but it is definitely the first Slam of the year and that is my main goal right now.