Interview with Pete on Davis Cup
February 1, 2002
Pete Sampras will represent the United States in next week's Davis Cup event between the United States and the Slovak Republic February 8, 9 and 10 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Sampras helped his country claim Davis Cup titles in 1992 and 1995. In the 1995 final against Russia in Moscow, Sampras won all three of his matches, a feat regarded as one of the greatest performances in Davis Cup history.
After Davis Cup, Pete will be playing in the Franklin Templeton Tennis Classic in Scottsdale, Arizona, followed by the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, California and the Ericsson Open in Miami.
Q. I wanted to check real quick about your motivation for wanting to play on this year's team was there a key factor or twisting of your arm to join this team?
PETE SAMPRAS: It was a feeling that I had last year a little bit. I felt like there's certain times of the year that I had a hard time getting going and Davis Cup is definitely -- it means something. You are playing for your teammates; playing for your country, and In these situations it inspires me. So that was more or less the reason to be part of the team this year. Looking forward to a fun week with a couple of the older guys and some of the young guys. Just more -- it's just a unique event that I need to put myself into because there's no question you get motivated to play Davis Cup.
Q. Have you ever played in Oklahoma before in a tournament?
PETE SAMPRAS: No.
Q. This will be your first time?
PETE SAMPRAS: Right.
Q. Two-part question. Did you adjust your training maybe over November, December because of your interest in the Davis Cup?
PETE SAMPRAS: No, just tried to really put in a big effort with the training trying to get myself in good shape, pretty much for the whole year. Davis Cup is something I have committed to for the year, so no, it wasn't anything specific I did at the end of the year.
Q. I know it was reported earlier last fall that you were going to come to Houston for the Clay Court Championships. Then you decided otherwise, I guess. Any reason for your change of heart there?
PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, it was, you know, playing Davis Cup, if things go well in this first round possibly play a second round right after Miami, I felt like that was a lot of tennis and I kind of rethought maybe I needed a little bit of time off and decided not to play Houston.
Q. The fact that it was clay or anything like that have anything to do with your decision?
PETE SAMPRAS: No, I wanted to play because it was on clay. It is just more -- just gave me a little time off and gave me a little bit of time to train on the clay. I felt like it was too much tennis when I kind of looked at my schedule for the first three months of the year.
Q. I wanted to ask you to speak on the fact that you are going to be in a bit of a different role in this Davis Cup because of Roddick being there. He's probably the best American player to come along in ten years. You have been the best player over the last ten years. You almost could be called a mentor of sorts. Also you were in a similar situation, I guess about ten years ago when McEnroe was on the team and you were on the team, and you played doubles together and he was the top player in US Davis Cup history even though you had won a major, you were still pretty young. Can you talk about those experiences of being in both places?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, being on the team with John, he was definitely a team leader and a big voice on the sideline. Just playing doubles at the time but still you felt his presence there which is the reason he wanted to become captain.
My relationship with Andy, Andy is someone that has everything together. I am not one to give unsolicited advice, but if he needs you know, to talk to me about anything to do with the tie of the weekend or just tennis in general, you know, I am more than happy to give him my thoughts and, you know, shed a little light on what I think he should do or whatever. But I am not much of a rah-rah-guy. I am not one that's going to be really outspoken versus how John was a lot more outspoken than I will ever be, but Andy, I mean, we all have confidence in his ability and he knows what he is doing out there. But if there's anything I can help with, I am more than willing to share my advice.
Q. Also do you feel any sense of rivalry with Andy; not in this when you are teammates - I know you won't feel that but he's the new guy coming along and you have something, you know, to defend, so to speak, and did you feel any of that with John; not necessarily at Davis Cup but just at that point in your career?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I think -- John, I think he was still playing competitive singles at the time, but, you know, maybe wasn't playing quite as well when I joined the team, whereas my situation with Andy he's definitely a rival; someone that you know, I could compete against over the next couple of years. So there's -- I wouldn't give him too much of my knowledge, but it's kind of a different place in our careers with John myself, and Andy. I think John was -- I am not sure what he was ranked or where he was at, a bunch of years ago when I wasn't on the team, but Andy, we are definitely, you know, going to be in competition here for the next couple of years.
Q. What is your greatest Davis Cup memory?
PETE SAMPRAS: I'd have to go back to Russia having to play on a pretty difficult surface against two pretty good players and coming back and playing the doubles, I think that was my best not just Davis Cup memory but one of my best tennis memories when I look back at my career.
Q. You have got a new coach and you came into Australia with very high expectations for yourself. Did it take you a little bit of time to come down after that? I know the disappointment from Wimbledon. Put into perspective the Australian.
PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, it was difficult because I spent many months just training and made a few changes with my coaching situation. Feeling pretty good and things going pretty well in Australia, and in a match like this on a pretty quick court, you need a few breaks to go your way. I had a few chances to tie it up there going into the fifth set. It didn't happen. It was a tough, tough defeat, I felt like I could have gone all the way there. But just as long as I keep on working hard I will get those breaks, but being there walking off that court was tough because I felt like I fought hard to get back into the match.
Definitely have high expectations like I have always had going into the year, and would have been nice to have started off the year with a win. But I am not going to get too down. I have got to look forward to the Davis Cup and the rest of the year.
Q. Does the rest of the year include -- where do you put Roland Garros in there?
PETE SAMPRAS: It's definitely in the back of my mind when as soon as Miami is over and I get on the clay, I will focus my attention on the dirt and give myself a good chance, get myself in shape which I feel like I am, and get over to Europe and start grinding with the dirt-ballers and just give it a good shot. I look at myself as a dark horse more than a favorite, it is a tough tournament to win. There are a lot of great clay court players.
Q. Two quick questions for you. Do you eat differently than early in your career to stay in top form? A coaching thing, how have your coaching needs changed?
PETE SAMPRAS: I do eat differently. A lot more aware of what is going into the body; try to, you know, as you get older your body changes. When you are 20 you can eat a burger and hit tennis balls an hour later; whereas, now it just making sure I am getting the right nutrients and I made a pretty good effort last couple of years to get rid of a lot of things in my kitchen. It's just important to have a good diet. As far as coaching, as far as working with a new coach or my idea of a coach?
Q. Your idea of a coach. How has that changed and also just practically, you know, when you are out there, what are you looking for now that maybe you didn't look as much for six months to a year ago?
PETE SAMPRAS: The biggest thing for me in a coach is -- he has got a bird's-eye view of what you look like out there. As much as I am experienced and to know what I am doing out there, just to have someone see what I am doing whether it is something technical with a shot or strategy or when I am on the court, you can't see that and a coach is definitely someone that can help you out. He can motivate you. He can give you pointers here and there, a few things here and there that you might try when playing someone. Someone that's also going to be a friend because you spend a lot of time together. You need to get along and communicate. Just an open relationship as far as communication and having an open mind, someone that knows your game which obviously Gully does. He's seen me play for ten years and just going out there and having a good positive energy.
Q. Kind of in a slump last year, kind of a rough year, but with all your successes, how hard is it to really keep motivated and do you have the same drive as you, say, four five years ago?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I think the drive, if anything, has gotten more because having not gotten that success last year and takes victories so many times and you win Majors consistently and you have a year that you don't win a major, if anything I want to get back up there. That's why I put in a big effort with the training. That's why a loss in a Slam like Australia, it gets tougher. So the drive is still there. The focus is still there. It's just a matter of going out there and winning tennis matches. And that's my goal and that's what I am hopefully going to have it click this year a few times and win a major or two.
Q. You have made several significant changes recently. How do you view those? Is it just a matter of starting anew or, I mean, Agassi kind of made the same change with his coach. At this point in your career, why make that change after you have had so much success with one person?
PETE SAMPRAS: Sure. Just a different voice, different energy, and, you know, I have been with Paul for a number of years, and you get to a certain point in any player/coach relationship in a sport that it does run its course and it gets a little stale and, you know, practices, you need to be motivated and have fun out there and I think Paul and I hit a point where it just got a little bit -- a little bit stale and I think we both felt it a little bit at times last year. I am always looking to improve and to be inspired and it was nothing to do with results.
It was more to do with just a different voice and a different energy that I think we both have kind of felt that at times. It was a big decision because I am a creature of habit. I don't like to have a lot of changes and to go out of my comfort zone was a big deal. But it happens. It obviously happened to Andre and I can't comment on the reasons, but for me and my experience, it's happened with Paul and I. We can be beyond our coaching. We are still very good friends and talk every now and again, so it's just part of life that you go through when you have to tell a good friend that I think this is it professionally. And that's pretty much the recap.
Q. Was it a difficult decision?
PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, it was difficult because, you know, Paul and I have been through a lot and through Tim's illness he was there for me and he's helped out my tennis, and has done a great deal for my tennis. I have won a number of titles and we had fun doing it. And I think last year it wasn't like I had a different year, I needed a change. It was more just the energy we had out there and having kind of a fresh voice was something that I think I was needing and certainly hopes it works out. It's tough. Seven years is a long time and you get used to each other and you get used to the things he's going to say and things I am going to say, I just felt I needed a little change just to go out there with a good attitude which I have always had but I think more when it comes to practicing and going out there with a good positive energy.
Q. You were talking about how because it was getting a little stale; you needed a new voice. How has Gullikson kind of maybe helped motivate you or inspire you a little bit differently or maybe ---
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, it's more just kind of -- he looks at my game a little bit differently than Paul and a few things I can do here and there. But it is just going out there and practicing with purpose and not to have to hit for two, three hours; just if you hit for an hour and a half, good quality, that's key for me. Going out there and practicing hard like you would a match, it's not easy, but it's something he's really emphasized for the past month being out in Australia is going out there winning your sets, winning your practice sets which is something I never really cared about just as long as I was hitting well. So that has been a change and when you go out and practice well, it can only lead to good things on the real court. So it didn't happen in Australia but still got a lot of time to start get going here.
Q. How much do you maybe tinker with your strategy and philosophies?
PETE SAMPRAS: Not much. I have been pretty successful the way I play, but he definitely -- a few things here and there he's seen over the years that I could maybe try to do and do a little bit better. But, you know, comes to my service games, that's pretty straightforward. But it's my return games that you know, -- that I need work on and that's going to win me a lot of matches. So it's trying to really, really work on that area.
Q. Looking ahead you are going to be coming out here in Indian Wells. You have had pretty good success the last two years. I know you talked in the past how you struggled a little bit with the conditions. With these last two years, are you starting to feel getting better grasp playing at Indian Wells?
PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, I kind of expected going there that I might not feel that comfortable with kind of the dryness there, the ball kind of goes on me a little bit. It is just something I have to adjust to and mentally I tell myself -- that's the reason I play Scottsdale because it's similar conditions just to kind of get used to it, and just tell myself I have to change my strokes a little bit and my strategy, and just adjust to the conditions and last year I kind of broke through and played pretty well there. So a couple of years there I really struggled and mentally anyway, but now it's something I go in there expecting and so hopefully, you know, which I will expect this year, so that will hopefully help me out this year and maybe go all the way.
Q. I was wondering a wave of patriotism has sort of swept through the country in general post-September 11. You are used to always being recognized as an American. But I was wondering if you feel more prideful and if that makes the Davis Cup more meaningful?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I think in some ways, yes. Definitely 9-11 I think changed everyone in the US especially. We all kind of looked at one another with a little more patience and sympathy. If there's any positive that came out of 9-11, that's what happened. It wasn't a sole reason why I decided to play Davis Cup, but there's an element of it that I think we are going to feel it at Oklahoma City. I think people in the US are going to feel a little bit more patriotism at certain events.
Q. You have been part of a couple of long-term relationships with coaches and I just wondered if you could talk about just what a luxury it is to find that kind of stability over several years?
PETE SAMPRAS: I think it's very huge for any athlete in teams sports or individual sport to have someone that you respect. I have been fortunate to have had a couple of really good coaches, a couple of really good friends that got me through some tough moments.
Q. Do you have any thoughts on maybe why it is so hard to find that kind of relationship? I know a lot of players, even some very talented ones, you know, switch coaches so often?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well I have been pretty fortunate with the people that I have worked with, but as far as other guys, it's maybe personality conflict, the philosophy conflict or maybe a player needing a change
Q. How much does the home-ground advantage mean in Davis Cup.
PETE SAMPRAS: It is very big. You are playing on your surface that you want to play on. You are playing in front of your hometown fans which can kind of get you going if things aren't going well.
Q. You have played against three of the Slovaks, Hrbaty, Kucera and Kroslak. Do you remember much about them?
PETE SAMPRAS: I know a lot about them. I've played Kucera a ton of times. Hrbaty I haven't played as much but I have seen him play and both those guys have a ton of experience. They are not going to be in awe or intimidated by any means. It is going to be a tough tie. I think we are probably the slight favorite, but anything can happen in Davis Cup. They are going to feel like the underdogs so they are going to come out swinging away, so hopefully we'll be prepared for that and get through it.
Q. Patrick McEnroe indicated a few weeks ago that some people thought it was kind of odd that this was going to be played in Oklahoma City, which is not exactly a big-time tennis country. Were you surprised about it?
PETE SAMPRAS: A little bit. I have never been to Oklahoma and when he told me I was a little surprised, but that's where it's going to be. I am sure the people in Oklahoma City will hopefully come out and support the tennis and support the team and make as much noise as possible, which is what we are going to need.
Q. Are you prepared to play singles both days and doubles in the middle?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I think we are going to weigh it up when see how Friday goes and see where we are at and if need be, I will be prepared to play doubles. I don't think any firm decision has been made.
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