Posted on: September 24th, 2002
Pete Sampras guests on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno Aired: September 24, 2002
- petepage
Jay: Please welcome a class act, Pete Sampras!
Pete comes in and they shake hands.
Jay: Congratulations!
Pete: Thank you, thank you.
Jay: How many grand slams have you won, is it 14?
Pete: 14
Jay: 14…so what's the biggest
Pete: Uh I think this one was the biggest, this year's been a little bit disappointing and to get through some tough moments after Wimbledon was such a low point, just got through it and worked hard, I just believed I could do it and I did it.
Jay: So what was the lowest point, you say the low point, what would, when was the day you went, you could look back and go that was the day, when was it?
Pete: Well, I think it was after Wimbledon. I just got home and I was really disappointed, the year's been crappy till that point and it just, it just was awful, lots of misery and I just believed that I could still do it. You know everyone's been writing me off for so long and I just had a lot of support from my family, my wife.
Jay: You say that now when I sit back and see a guy like you won all these championships, when you say people would write me off, I kind of smile because you are one of the greatest tennis players of all time, if not the greatest, and I know and at what point (people begin to applaud and Pete looks at audience and smiles) but so when you say oh their writing me off, where does that come from, where do you feel that from?
Pete: I wasn't quite as dominate, you know I was number 1 for so long then I started to slip a little bit, uh Wimbledon was a huge shock to everyone and I think that's when it started happening. I just kind of I started believing it a little bit, you know I'm getting old 30-31 and if it's time for me to stop and I had moments when I was thinking about moving on but I was passionate about the game, still loved to play and still felt I had one more major in me. And here I am having done it! Applause.
Jay: Oh it's a great story, the part that's fascinating for people I mean I always liked you because you are not a loud guy, you don't complain, you don't whine, you just do it and I just wonder what is it in you that says okay this is the turnaround, yesterday was the low point. I mean does the strength come from somewhere?
Pete: Well from myself, my family, my wife. My wife has to live with me every day and it's not easy when you are not doing well. But, she, she was for me, she really kept me together and it was up to me as far as going out and working hard, playing better…
ay: Well I read some things and I thought was really unfair and nasty, well once he got married well that's it, ruined, his game and this kind of nonsense. How did you deal with that?
Pete: Ummm, it was a bunch of crap, really, I mean it really was. Being married is the best thing that ever happened to me, I met the right woman, and I've done a lot in the game and so consumed with the game for so long, it was time for me to get married and have a family and that's what we're doing, and uh this last victory was so huge for me it really was it was such a come back for me and it felt great.
Jay: Well it was great, was great. But look we'll take a little break and talk to Pete more after this.
(commercial break)
Jay: We're back with US Open Champion Pete Sampras. Tell me about the crowd when you were there. How important is their support? Could you feel it?
Pete: It was huge, especially New York and being an American in New York City at a time like this, it was huge. Playing Andre in the finals they were really into it and it was fun to play. But a lot of support always helps.
Jay: Now how fast is your serve, I heard different….
Pete: Uhhh well the top speed is probably 135
Jay: A 135 gee see that's amazing. Now like those machines that you practice with that shoot the balls, do they shoot them that fast?
Pete: No I don't practice with machines
Jay: Well, no but I mean (laughter)
Pete: I practice with people
Jay: Well I know you have those things, cause it's hard to imagine how fast 135 is. I mean most people haven't got…well here take a look we have some tapes, here's some serves coming down. (They show tape of Pete serving to Andre…one after another.) It has to take some kind of toll. You can hardly see it.
Applause
Jay: [says something I cannot hear for the applause.]
Jay: Do you think you could return your own serve?
Pete: Tsk, well yeah, I mean I've played guys that served huge in the 131, 135 down the line. I think I could, it's tough, but I'm still pretty good I think.
Jay: Haha well yeah you're very good. Now your first US Open was what year?
Pete: 1990
Jay: 1990, you did Johnny that year
Pete: Yeah that was tough
Jay: What? (inaudible) we need to do John…same time
Pete: everything, my whole life changed and coming on and doing Johnny Carson, I was a little bit nervous.
Jay: Well Johnny is very gracious, we call him and say hey listen we have somebody on, could I borrow the tape, and he always let us borrow it so this is you and I thought you'd, you don't look that much different, I thought well this will be great he'll look like Howdy Doody (a marionette on tv ages ago) or something Pete says something but can't get it. But actually you look pretty much the same. Here take a look you were 19 years old. They run the tape…..
Johnny C: How important is it for you to be number 1?
Pete: Right now it's not very important. Kinda let this sink
Johnny C: kinda let this sink in??
Pete:Yeah and try to keep on enjoying it which I think is important. And just to keep enjoying and not get too cocky and arrogant. You know especially the ….
Johnny C: that's a good idea…just to enjoy the moment
Pete: I want to remain the same kid I've always been.
Back to Jay: You gonna talk now, gonna handle it? Applause….And your posture hasn't improved an inch!
Pete: Sorry, but these seats are a little uncomfortable.
Jay: Well let me, now you kept your promise and you haven't become cocky. You think a lot of the players are too cocky?
Pete:No, there's some on the ladies tour. (Audience jeers and Pete becomes embarrassed… flushed.) I mean the men's tour the guys are pretty cool, but there are some pretty confident young girls out there.
Jay:You got Andy, Andy Roddick he seems, is he cocky?
Pete: No he is very gracious, good great player, he's gotta good game, he's pretty humble, he'll be fine.
Jay: Which girls are cocky?
Pete: Ohhhhh Jay, you tell me (he's laughing, blushing)
Jay: your honor, he opened this line of questioning, I did not bring it up your honor.
Pete: I don't want to mention any names but there's you know
Jay: Ehhh does it begin with a V (Laughter) EE haha
Pete: Enough said
Jay: there's nothing wrong with being cocky it's alright.
Pete: Well you know
Jay: Hey you're sweating would you like one (hands him Kleenex)
Pete: I think it's you (laughter in audience)
(commercial break)
Jay: So what is your future in tennis, what are you gonna, you're not going to retire (like a plea)
Pete: I don't know I been going back and forth, I'd like to still play, it's fun again, but the other part is that it was a great win…so I, I'm still thinking about it. I'm going to see where I at in about a month.
Jay: One last quick question, I know you are Greek. Did you have a big fat Greek Wedding when you got married?
Pete: Uhhh we didn't have a big fat Greek wedding. But I have a lot of fat Greek friends (Laughter) but uh no it was a —
Jay: I 'm gonna let you hang yourself, go
Pete: (laughs) I know
Jay: Lotta guys named Nick...
Pete: Nick, George, Gus a lot of Gus
Jay: Well God Bless you, you're a true Champion and just a real decent guy. God Bless your…(inaudible audience clapping…) Say hello to Bridgette and Good Luck with the baby….be right back with Maggie….Pete Sampras.
Alrighty, my next guest is a very talented young actress….Maggie Gilenau (Probably spelled last name wrong.) Say hi to Pete.
Postscript
Now this gal who is in the movie The Secretary is asked about the movie and she says it's about S&M and that the producer gave her a porn film so she could know more about it. The camera goes to Pete and he does a quick raise of the eyebrows with a little grin on his face….I tried to capture that for about a half hour….could not do it.
Then this gal tells about the woman in the movie having mouse traps on her nipples….the camera once again goes to Pete….he laughs and looks at this girl like is 'she for real?'
Okay….well this is as accurate as I can get it. The conversation was very fast. There was a lot of laughter from the audience, Jay and Pete….I think he had a good time.
Special thanks to Joy Parker for the transcript of interview and video captures and to Sonja Stransky for the photo collages.
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