Sampras Ready to go to Attack
February 13, 2002
Pete Sampras is riding a Davis Cup victory morale boost into the spring hard-court portion of the ATP season. And the 30-year-old icon is prepared to battle as he tries to hold his place in the American tennis pecking order.
For years, it's been the Sampras-Andre Agassi duopoly at the top of the North American game, with occasional challenges from Grand Slam-winning compatriots including Michael Chang and the now-retired Jim Courier.
But in early 2002, it's still down to Pete and Andre, with Sampras perhaps holding an edge after changing coaches before the Australian Open and now determined to stay on his game as the first two Masters Series events of the season unfold in his native California and in Miami.
He resumes competition this month at the desert Franklin-Templeton event in Arizona, a tournament run by his younger brother Gus.
Sampras, whose 13 grand Slam singles titles are the most of any man, went out to eventual finalist Marat Safin in the Melbourne fourth round last month as he attempted to fight back from two sets down.
"I definitely have high expectations going into the year, and it would have been nice to have started off the year with a win," he said.
"But I'm not going to get too down. I've got to look forward to the rest of the year."
The disappointment was partially eased by last weekend's Davis Cup win over Slovakia in Midwestern Oklahoma. But Sampras knows that pushing him hard is American young gun Andy Roddick, already proving that he's got the game to rise to a top ten ranking after finishing in the top 20 for 2001.
Sampras is wise enough not to give anything away. He's tasted defeat at the hands of the 19-year-old and won't be offering any strategy tips in future Davis Cup environments.
"I'm not one to give unsolicited advice," said Sampras. "But I'm more than happy to give him my thoughts, maybe shed a little light on what I think he should do or whatever."
Sampras added: "We all have confidence in Andy's ability, he knows what he's doing out there."
Sampras is looking forward to the upcoming run of events on home hard-court. After failing for the first time in a decade to lift a title last year, his hunger for the game is back.
"I've tried to really put in a big effort with the training, trying to get myself in good shape for the whole year," he said.
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