Posted on: October 09th, 2002
Annacone: Sampras keeping in shape but still mulling retirement
- petepage[WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2002 By Matthew Cronin tennisreporters.net]
Says French, Wimbledon could motivate return
Paul Annacone played golf with his student, Pete Sampras, last Friday in LA and Sampras' coach said that the 14-time Grand Slam champion still isn't sure whether he will continue playing next year. But did say that Sampras is keeping himself in shape just in case he decides to head Down Under in January. He added that Sampras does have enough desire to make another run at another major title.
"He's still hitting the gym and track and practicing a little," Annacone told tennisreporters.net. "He knows that he can't go cold turkey for three months if he's going to have a chance at another major."
Sampras is apparently thinking that it will be tough to top the magic he created in New York last month, when he won his first title in more than two years at the US Open, edging his great rival, Andre Agassi, in stirring four-setter.
"In a romantic way, it might not ever get better than that," Annacone said "Finishing his career that way would be spectacular. But the fact is now that playing tennis is fun for him again and after winning the Open, he now knows he can play at a high level once again. The tricky and tough part of the decision for Pete will be deciding whether he can maintain a positive attitude week in and week out if he loses some matches; and whether he is willing work enough to maintain a high level. He would have to develop a schedule that will allow himself to keep sharp and be ready to go at the majors."
GOING TO EUROPE WON'T BE A VACATION
While the 31-year-old Sampras doesn't need another Australian or US Open crown, the majors in Europe certainly beckon: He has never won Roland Garros and hasn't played well there since 1996; and at '02 Wimbledon, he was stunned in the second round by George Bastl in a desultory performance, not the way
that the seven-time champion wanted to end his career at the All-England Club. Giving those two tournaments another shot may just be all the motivation Sampras needs to get back on the court next year.
"I'm sure that in his mind that he thinks that if he can stay focused like he did at the US Open, he can win Roland Garros," Annacone said. "And I know how upset he was at Wimbledon. Those are the types of goals that can keep him going. But if he says he's going to retire say after the French or Wimbledon and doesn't do well there, that's a big risk emotionally. He needs to play on his terms ?which is to focus on playing well, not on results, and allow his level to come to him. Before the US Open, he was too focused on his results and developed a bit of a negative mind set. Once he became convinced that the best way to proceed was to focus on playing his game, his level caught up with him."
Sampras' wife, actress Bridgette Wilson, is expecting the couple's first child in December. Whether Sampras will want to hit the road for an extended period after their baby cracks his or first smile is debatable.
"First he has to make an emotional commitment to himself," Annacone said. "Then he has to say to himself and to me that he'll keep positive and not let losing eat away at him if he happens to lose."
RETIREMENT STILL AN OPTION
Annacone said that he wouldn't be surprised if Sampras decided to call it quits."As far as I'm concerned, the guy is one of my best friends and I want him to be happy. He's still evolving and needs to consider what stage of life he's at. He knows that if he decides to play again that it's a no brainer before any Slam that he'll need to work three months in advance," he said.
Annacone said that while Sampras was disappointed that the US Davis Cup team lost its semifinal tie to France, he isn't regretting his decision not to play. Sampras had committed at the year's outset to playing all year.
"I talked to Pete just after he told [US captain] Pat McEnroe that he wasn't going to play and Pete said to me, "I don't know if I want to play anymore. And I thought he was just talking about Davis Cup before he stopped me and said, 'I mean not playing, period. If he's even thinking that, he shouldn't be on the team. I know he felt bad that the team lost and knows that they could have used him, but it was no-brainer not to play if he wasn't in the right frame of mind to compete."
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