Posted on: September 07th, 2002
Sampras backs with what works
- petepageSource: Charles Bricker, South Florida Sun-sentinel
September 7 2002 NEW YORK -- Paul Annacone, the nearly anonymous coach who has been an enormous key in the resurgence of Pete Sampras, leaned back against a hallway wall in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday and mused about the possibility of The Pistol calling it quits if he turns this U.S. Open into his 14th Grand Slam triumph.
"Who knows that on Monday morning, if he wins this, Pete could just retire," Annacone said. "Who knows if Pete could just say, `I finished the way I wanted to finish.'"
Sampras retire now? It seems like a long shot because Sampras has said so many times in the past three months that he knows he still has the game to win majors and looks forward to continuing his career.
A wry smile crossed Annacone's face. He has heard that speech many times, but he's not totally convinced. "After what's gone on in the last 12 months, I wouldn't be surprised by anything," Annacone said.
Of all the people that have come in and out of Sampras' life in the past 15 years, Annacone is one of his few confidantes. That's why he's back with Sampras after Pete terminated him at the end of last season.
"To have Paul back is huge, really huge," Sampras said with unconcealed admiration after he beat Andy Roddick in straight sets in Thursday night's quarterfinal. "He knows how I tick as a player. You can't put a price on that."
It is one of the great ironies of this season that after twisting in so many directions in an effort to exorcise the demons that brought his game down in 2001, Sampras is right back where he started, with Annacone, and close to finding the form that took him to the pinnacle of tennis.
From out of nowhere, with a 20-17 record and no titles since he won the 2000 Wimbledon, Sampras is now two matches from stunning those who had him ready for a burial. He'll play Sjeng Schalken today and, if he wins, either Lleyton Hewitt or Andre Agassi in the final.
It was at the end of July that Sampras called Annacone, who is director of the USTA's High Performance development program, to ask him to once again be his coach.
Sampras had worked less than a month with Tom Gullikson, twin brother of his first professional coach, the late Tim Gullikson. He had then gone to Jose Higueras, the clay court expert and taskmaster who helped Jim Courier fight to No. 1.
But after failures at the French Open and Wimbledon, Sampras was more confused about his game than ever.
"He's come full circle. I think he felt he needed some stability," Annacone said. "Ultimately, I think he just lost his way a little bit, and if I'm able to help him regain that focus, that's great."
They had been together seven years when Sampras, frustrated by the decline of his game, told Annacone it was time for them to split. It was so amicable that Annacone and Sampras kept in touch periodically, exchanging views on his game.
"He needed a break from me and I from him. But Pete will always be a friend first, last and always," Annacone said.
What Annacone brought back to Sampras, aside from confidence and trust, was a sense of how Sampras' game had degenerated tactically.
"My philosophy is that you have to understand what you do best and live and die by it. Play on your terms. Walk off the court, win or lose, saying I played the right way," Annacone said.
From the first round of the Open, it was obvious Sampras had changed tactics. He was not only serving-and-volleying, which he always has done, but he had gotten back to chipping-and-charging off his opponents' second serves.
Even in risky situations, Sampras was moving forward, being super-aggressive because it put him in a more positive frame of mind. Nevermind losing points.
It's hard to argue that Sampras isn't on the right track after consecutive wins over Greg Rusedski, Tommy Haas and Roddick.
"Paul knows me. He knows it's not about forehands and backhands," said Sampras, who has won eight Grand Slams with Annacone as coach. "It's very mental. He's been a big reason I have been able to get through this."
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