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Pete takes out Santoro in three sets

March 14, 2002

Fabrice Santoro pushed Sampras for more than two hours Thursday, testing his back, his volleys and his patience before succumbing, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, at the Pacific Life Open. Sampras, seeded No. 10, will face Rainer Schuettler of Germany in today's quarterfinals.

Santoro had won three of six previous matches against Sampras.

"He gives a lot of guys problems, including myself,'' Sampras said. "He's very experienced, a smart player. He's very, very quick and returns well.''

Sampras appeared on his way to an easy win after breezing taking the first set, but his game turned sour in the second against the Frenchman.

After building a 5-2 lead in the third set, Sampras lost the next three games before getting back on track. He held service to go up 6-5, then broke Santoro -- who doubled faulted on the final point.

"I missed a lot of volleys, but I was able to scrap out of the match,'' Sampras said. "Competition gets tougher, so I hope I can raise my level a little bit in the next couple of days.''

"He's (Santoro) very easy to get frustrated against because he doesn't play with a ton of power," said Sampras, who has lost three times to Santoro - all on clay. "He gives you no pace, especially off that forehand side. He just kind of chips it. He comes in on my backhand, that ball stays pretty low and it's tough to pass. You're not sure what's coming from him."

That is why Santoro, a 13-year veteran of the ATP Tour, is called "Magician." The Frenchman continually pulls shots out of the air, surprising his opponents with a volley when they expect a backhand passing shot or a drop shot instead of a cross-court winner.

But he couldn't fool Sampras the entire match. Even with his back starting to stiffen, Sampras managed to come up with a few tricks of own, switching rackets when he served (tighter strings) and returned (looser) and eventually broke Santoro in the decisive set for a 3-1 lead.

Santoro fought back, breaking Sampras in the ninth game and squaring the set at 5 by holding his serve.

"This was my best match of the tournament," he said.

And also his last. Sampras, eager to get out of the cool temperatures, held serve, then took a 15-40 lead on Santoro's service game for match point. Santoro must have run out of magic because he double-faulted on match point.

"I didn't think he was going for it," Sampras said. "He was serving upwind. I kind of stood over a little bit and stood in. I think he saw that I might do something with his second serve (so) he went for it and hit it into the net."

 

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Can the cool genius revive Sampras?
by: Matthew Cronin, tennisreporters.net

March 14, 2002

Pete Sampras wants everyone to know that he's not done and that he's sick of hearing that he's an old man and should think of packing it in. He still believes that he can win Slams and be a major contender everywhere he plays.

"I'm tired of hearing that because you're 30, you're washed up," Sampras said. "I don't believe that's the case."

Sampras needed someone to give him a solid boot in the rear end and that explains his decision to can longtime friends Paul Annacone and Tom Gullikson over the past four months and hire renowned coach Jose Higueras.

"I wanted to be a little more uncomfortable out there," Sampras said. "It was difficult knowing that I needed to to call two close people in my life and say this wasn't working for me," he said. "It wasn't anything that they did or didn't do."

Higueras didn't accept the position until he knew that his now-boss at the USTA, Annaacone, and his longtime buddy Gully were OK with it.

"When I talked to Pete that was my main concern, my big doubt because Tom is my good friend," Higeuras told tennisreporters.net. "It was unfortunate because Tom's one of the great guys out there. But Tom and I talked about it and we're still friends."

Higueras, who coached both Michael Chang and Jim Courier to Slam titles, is considered by some to own the best mind in the game. "I've learned more about tennis from Jose than any other person alive," said Todd Martin, he himself considered one of the game's brains.

Jose is old school in his approach, preferring more time on the practice courts developing a player's tennis legs than off-court doing squats. Pete has been doing two-a-days since the moment he arrived here, an uncommon sight for the 13-time Grand Slam champion.

"As great as he is, everyone can get better," Higueras said. "This is no way a criticism because he's such a great record but the only way to get better is hitting tennis balls."

BACKHAND NEEDS OVERHAUL
It's pretty obvious that Sampras' greatest weakness is his backhand, which he rarely hits for a winner off grass because he brushes over the ball too much when he's hitting with topspin and floats the ball too frequently when he slices it. Pete's backhand return has been a weapon on grass because he meets the ball out front and hits flat. But on other surfaces, a Sampras' backhand winner is as uncommon as a Sampras' clay court title.

"His backhand isn't bad, he just probably lost a little confidence in it," Higueras said. "It has to do with positioning. He needs to get his feet a little happier and be in a more offensive position, to adjust to where the ball is coming and take it more on the rise. But that's a lot easier said than done because he's not 15-years-old. But if he has the commitment and his body holds up, I don't see any reason why someone as talented as Pete cannot do whatever he wants to do."

Sampras hasn't won a title since 2000 Wimbledon, but has played extremely well in 12 out of his last 14 matches at the '00 and '01 U.S. Open, not including his deviations at the hands of Marat Safin and Lleyton Hewitt. Yes, he will win another title of some sort and yes, he will be the Wimbldeon favorite once again this year, but what are the chances of No. 10-ranked Sampras becoming dominant again at age 30? Not very good, but he'll die trying to claw his way back.

"With Andre, people wrote him off two or three years ago and he's been playing great," Higuears said. " As long as your mind wants to do it and your body holds up, there's no such thing as not being able to do it at 30-, 32-years old. The interest sometimes goes away or when there is an unwillingness to make changes, that's when people stop playing. So far, he done everything that I've asked."

Former Roland Garros semifinalist Higueras is one cool customer. He could give a hoot about being under the spotlight as King Peter's coach. For the past decade or so as a USTA coach, he has been working in the shadows at Mission Hills CC in Rancho Mirage with Amercia's young pros and has never asked for an ounce of credit when anyone succeeded. "It's a challenge," he said. "Besides working with Pete, he can be an influence for some of our young guys. I don't care what the ramifications are for me."

MUST STEP UP IN PARIS
Higueras biggest challenge will be to make Sampras a respectable performer at Roland Garros, a locale where he has essentially embarrassed himself during the past five years. Sampras has lost to a handful of players that he is better than on clay or any other surface and because of his inability to hit a backhand down-the-line winner, much less hit consistent, deep chips with his returns in order to charge the net effectively. More than a few players, including Yevgeny Kafelinkov, have said that Sampras will never win the French.

"It was in the back of my mind," Sampras said of his decision to hire Roland Garros expert Higueras. "But it was not just a decision for clay. It's interesting to hear his philosophy on how I should be playing on clay. ... If I could pick one tournament to win, it would be the French. We all know that's the one that's given me the most problems. There are no magic pills. He can tell me everything but I have to go out and execute."

It's doubtful that Sampras will have a major impact in Paris this year, but a respectable result is not out of the question. "There are things you have to do different on clay but if he's going to be able to them I don't know. But my main goal is to get his game a little better and then he'll play better everywhere. He needs a defined style. When you pay on clay, your feet are involve more. But with his serve, you can't underestimate him anywhere. But does he have the same chance of winning that he did five years ago? Probably not, but I'm not going to say he has no chance, not with his record."

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TMS 2002 - Pacific Life Open, Indian Wells (Round 3)
Post-Match Interview

Pete Sampras defeats Fabrice Santoro
6-3, 3-6, 7-5

An interview with: PETE SAMPRAS

MODERATOR: Pete improves his career record here to 30-11. His sixth quarterfinal in Indian Wells, third in a row here in the desert. Questions for Pete.

Q. Not easy guy for you to play, is it?

PETE SAMPRAS: He gives a lot of guys problems, including myself. He's very experienced out there. He's a smart player. You don't know really what's coming. He can serve and volley every now and again on the second serve. You think he's going to stay back.

I mean, he's a magician. That's why he has that nickname. He's very, very quick, one of the quickest guys we have out here. Returns well. I thought I had him on the ropes there a little bit, and he came up with some good stuff on some breakpoints. Conditions weren't easy tonight - a little bit cool and a little bit breezy.

I didn't serve all that great tonight, but he had a lot to do with that. He was returning very well. I just felt like my serve really wasn't quite there tonight. Hopefully I can get that a little bit better tomorrow.

Q. Was your back at all bothering you?

PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, it's a little tight. These conditions, doing a lot of bending and scrapping at the net, he was making me work pretty hard. I don't know what the temperature was, but with the windchill, it must have been probably in the 50s. You're always going to have a few aches and pains because of the conditions.

Q. Is that why you missed so many volleys?

PETE SAMPRAS: Didn't really volley too well today. I missed a lot of easy ones. You know, just wasn't quite there. You know, I hit the ball pretty good, but I feel like I can always play better. Whenever I walk off a court, I'm tough on myself. I miss a few shots, a few volleys, I'm my toughest critic out there.

You're right, I didn't really volley too well. I missed a lot of them. You know, I was able to scrap out this match. Competition does get tougher, so I hope I can raise my level a little bit in the next couple days.

Q. Would you characterize playing him kind of annoying, I don't mean his personality, but his game?

PETE SAMPRAS: He's very easy to get frustrated against because he doesn't play with a ton of power, but he gives you no pace, especially off that forehand side, he just kind of chips it, chips it. He comes in on my backhand, that ball stays pretty low. It's tough to pass. You're not sure what's coming from him.

He has a lot of different options - he can stay back, come in, he's got great touch around the net, good wheels. He's a scrapper. He knows what he's doing out there. He's been playing this game for many years. You know, I played him a number of times, so he's pretty used to, you know, kind of my game a little bit. So, you know, he's a tough guy to play, no question. I can see why he's had a good year.

Q. What do you think about your next opponent?

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, Rainer is someone who is one of the most improved players we have on the tour. Obviously, he's had a great tournament. He's playing well, you know, serves very well, returns well, very quick around the court, one of the fittest guys we have on the tour. He's got great groundstrokes.

You know, I practiced with him a little bit over the years. Seems like he's on the way up.

Q. You had one close match in Cincinnati, is that correct?

PETE SAMPRAS: We played in Cincinnati. I think that's when he was first starting out. I'm not too sure what the score was.

MODERATOR: It was '99.

Q. There was a double-fault on match point. Was that the last thing in the world you expected from him?

PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah. I didn't think he was going to go for it. Didn't seem like he double-faulted all match. He was serving upwind. I kind of stood over a little bit and stood in. I think he saw that I might do something with his second. He went for it and hit it into the net.

The conditions, they're not easy out there with that wind. You know, it doesn't look like it maybe from where you're sitting, but down there, you know, the conditions of it being pretty cold, it was tough. It was tough playing out there.

Q. Fabrice is obviously sort of a drive-yourself-crazy kind of player. He was one of three in a row that had two-handed shots off of both wings. Would you like to see the powers that be ban two-handed?

PETE SAMPRAS: I don't think that's going to happen (smiling).

I think it's pretty unique to see with Fabrice's game, he's a little limited with the two hands on both sides, but he makes up for it with his touch, with his quickness. Definitely has some advantages to have that two-handed backhand. He returns quite well, has that good chipper forehand - not too sure what to do with it. He's pretty crafty.

Q. More seriously, where do you think you would be in your career if Pete hadn't changed you to a one-handed backhand?

PETE SAMPRAS: That's a good question. Every now and again I think about it. I wouldn't be sitting here, I don't think, with having won Wimbledon as many times, let alone The Open. It's really hard to say. You know, I think I would have -- who knows. I don't know.

Q. Do you think you could have won at Wimbledon with a two-handed backhand?

PETE SAMPRAS: There's not many that have. You know, Andre is really the only guy. I mean, the game has gotten so quick. You know, Borg did it for a number of years, but that was different. Still, it was a great effort. You know, there's not too many great two-handers that can serve and volley well, that have the good one-hand volley. So you're a little bit vulnerable out there when you have the two-hand backhand. But it's really hard to say where I would be today.

Q. You kept changing racquets, like you had a racquet to serve and a racquet to return. Did you have some trouble with your strings?

PETE SAMPRAS: No. I was using a looser racquet. I just felt like in the second, it was so cold that I couldn't really generate much on my serve. My second serve, it just felt like I was working hard, swinging hard, it wasn't going anywhere. So I did something I never do, and I went to a looser racquet. That's a big step for me.

Seemed like I got a little bit more kick off my serve, a little more power, started serving a little bit better. I just went back to my tight racquet on my return games, because I like that feel. On the service games, I went to the looser one.

But at 5-3, I had the loose one, but I was playing downwind. I had a lot of different things going on in my mind (laughter). That's how we are out there, trust me. So I went to the tighter racquet. I'm getting broken.

It's just interesting - dealing with conditions, you have to be more open-minded. I've never really been open over the years. Now it's okay to go looser when it's cold, you know, to get a little bit more pop on the serve.

Q. Can you overthink out there sometimes?

PETE SAMPRAS: Sometimes. Going downwind, should I use a tighter racquet or do I stick with this racquet a little bit looser, better for my serve? Sure, you play mind games with yourself. Playing with two new racquets for the last couple sets, kind of hard to figure it out. Tough when it's windy. You can definitely get your mind going a little bit.

Q. You hit a lob early in the match, if I recall. I don't remember a Sampras lob.

PETE SAMPRAS: I hit a couple good ones over the years.

Q. You have?

PETE SAMPRAS: A couple (smiling).

Q. You admit it?

PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, I rarely do it.

Q. Do you think that's kind of wimpy on your part?

PETE SAMPRAS: Say again?

Q. Pete Sampras hitting a lob, is that kind of wimpy?

PETE SAMPRAS: Wimpy, no. It's hopefully smart - if it goes in. The one that I did hit, I was playing upwind, so it is a good shot. I missed it. It's tough hitting. Not too many one-handers have good backhand lobs.

You know, it's a shot I rarely use, but it's a smart shot to get guys off the net. Fabrice, you know -- how can I say it nicely?

Q. Not too tall, vertically challenged. He's not going to win an Olympic high-jump.

PETE SAMPRAS: You said it.

Q. Even though you've been saying for a number of years you want to win this again, when you compare the way you're playing now to the last couple years, where would you come to place yourself?

PETE SAMPRAS: I think pretty similar. I think I played pretty well here last year. Got to the final. Lost a tough first set against Andre.

I'm pretty much in the same area, I feel. Things are going along pretty smoothly. I feel like I can improve a little bit. Hopefully it will get better tomorrow. I'm not looking that far ahead, to the weekend. Just taking it one match at a time, trust me. I don't want to offend anyone in here.

 

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