Sampras advances to Queen's club semis
June 16, 2000
LONDON - Six-time Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras eased into the Queen's Club semifinals Friday, beating American qualifier Bob Bryan 6-4, 6-4.
"My game is where I want it to be," Sampras said. "Everything is in place. My form has gotten a bit better as the week has gone on and I hope I can just carry it through."
Bryan's mother, Kathy, reached the third round of Wimbledon in 1967, playing under her maiden name, Kathy Blake. The son and his twin brother were friends of Chelsea Clinton while at Stanford and received a personal tour of the White House by the president's daughter.
Sampras broke in the opening game of each set but Bryan managed to stay in the match with fine serving. He had eight aces to seven for Sampras, but the three-time defending Wimbledon champion was better in every other area.
Sampras struggled in the second set although Bryan failed to earn any break points. Sampras had a chance to close the match with Bryan serving at 4-5 but missed two match points. He finally won on his fourth match point.
"It's a great preparation. You hope you can get a lot of matches in this week, and it's a bonus if you can win it," Sampras said. "That's why I'm here. Then I'll have a couple of days off and begin hitting at Wimbledon in midweek and just prepare well and practice hard.
"It's totally different playing matches under pressure, and that's what this week has given me, serving for the match at 5-4. These are moments I'm going to have over the next couple of weeks."
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