Hewitt Again Too Tough for Sampras
Source: ATP.com
March 16, 2002
Once again, Lleyton Hewitt proved he had a winning strategy to unravel
Pete Sampras, even on the American's home turf. On Saturday, in the semifinals
at Indian Wells, the top seeded Australian claimed his fourth straight victory
against the 13-time Grand Slam champion, this time cruising 6-2, 6-4.
The semifinal was all too reminiscent of last year's US Open final, which
the 21-year-old won in straight sets. Hewitt simply was too fast, consistent
and punishing against his 30-year-old opponent. The last game of the match
pretty much summed up the match. With Hewitt serving, Sampras plopped a
shot into the net. Hewitt then hit an ace, followed by two consecutive passing
shots to take the game and the match.
With the wind billowing and dust whirling through the stadium, Sampras
was at a loss on how to battle the elements and a opponent who he describes
as the "best wind player" in the game. He lost his serve at 1-1
in the first set and again at 4-2, and never once broke Hewitt's serve during
the one hour and 23 minute affair.
"I really felt I couldn't find my bearings today," Sampras said.
"My game in the wind is just a little bit vulnerable because it affects
my ball toss and serve, but also add Lleyton who is a great player and loves
the conditions and really adjusts his feet well - a lot better than I do."
Although Hewitt now has a 5-4 series edge against Sampras, the Australian
still considers Sampras to be one of the best players in the game.
"It's a tough day to assess Pete Sampras on today's performance because
he said that he's not a big fan of the wind," Hewitt said. "I
don't think anyone can write him off or count him out. I've got so much
respect for Pete, the way that he played those big matches against Andre
[Agassi], Pat [Rafter], [Marat] Safin, everyone at [last year's] US Open.
You know, he was a real credit to himself I think because I think a lot
of people had written him off."
Hewitt has now extended his streak to 10 straight victories. Coming off
a recent title win in San Jose, last year's year-end World No. 1 is seeking
his first Tennis Masters Series title, a feat he would very much like to
add to his already impressive list of accomplishments.
The only other time he reached a Tennis Masters Series final was in 2000
in Stuttgart, where he was defeated by Wayne Ferreira. "It's been a
long time since Stuttgart when I had had a chance to beat Ferreira in the
final, there. I lost in a tight five-setter. I feel like I'm a lot better
player now than I was then."
In Sunday's final, the Australian will meet Tim Henman, who he has defeated
all three times they've played.
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TMS 2002 - Pacific Life Open, Indian Wells (SF)
Post-Match Interview
Pete Sampras loses to Lleyton Hewitt
2-6, 4-6
An interview with:
PETE SAMPRAS
MODERATOR: Questions.
Q. Which was more trouble for you, Hewitt or the conditions?
PETE SAMPRAS: Uhm, both. Very difficult conditions for me. You know, playing
someone like Lleyton, who really plays well in the wind, probably the best
wind player on the tour. You know, I think it's safe to say I've never really
liked playing when it's this gusty. It was swirling around. I really kind
of struggled in every area, especially my serve.
I could not get anything on it. I couldn't just get any timing out there.
It was just a struggle. I really felt I couldn't find my bearings today.
Give him credit, he returned well, served pretty well in the conditions.
You know, my game in the wind is just a little bit vulnerable because I
just -- it affects my ball toss and my serve, but also add Lleyton, who
is a great player and loves the conditions and really adjusts his feet well
- a lot better than I do. Just combine all that, it was a struggle.
Q. Did you wake up this morning and look outside and hope for one of those
Palm Springs days, no wind, sunny?
PETE SAMPRAS: I did. I woke up this morning, saw it was as windy as it
was. It was a little unsettling, just to see how windy it was, just knowing
that I struggle a little bit.
You know, in the final last year against Lleyton at The Open, it was pretty
breezy. The conditions are the same for both of us. He handled it a lot
better than I did the last two times we played.
It doesn't really help my game. I give him credit. He used the wind to
his advantage. He really did.
Q. Were you ever able to get loose out there? Having had to play last
night, hard conditions, you looked a little stiff today.
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I felt pretty good this morning. It was a pretty cool,
windy night last night. I woke up fine. You know, I had a good warm-up.
You know, it's an early start after playing at night. But that's the schedule
that they put together.
Definitely didn't help me out today. Not an excuse. You have to give full
credit to Lleyton, the way he played. He seemed a lot fresher than I did
and just played a little bit better.
Q. How do you feel about your tennis overall these last few weeks?
PETE SAMPRAS: I feel pretty good. I feel like I'm hitting the ball fine.
I hit the ball, you know, pretty well this week, got through some tough
matches.
But I still feel like I can play a little bit better and improve. You know,
I'm going to do a little work with Jose the next couple days, just to work
on a few things. We haven't had a lot of time to really work one on one.
But I've got a lot of matches under the belt, my body feels pretty strong.
Tennis-wise, I feel like I can play a little bit better. I like the conditions
better in Miami than here. Hopefully it won't be as windy and as cool. But
I feel pretty good.
Q. Putting the conditions aside, think about your last four matches with
him, why you're not able to put any pressure on him from anywhere on the
court.
PETE SAMPRAS: I think pretty much on my return games, he's serving well
enough now that it's pretty tough to control the point because, you know,
he's popping in a few aces here and there. You know, I hit one short ball,
he'll come in . It's a lot like playing Michael Chang , but I think he plays
with a little more power.
He's a great counter-puncher. He's tough to come in on. When you do come
in, he has good enough wheels that he hits some great passing shots. It's
the toughest match-up for me at this point in my tennis. You know, his return
game, you know, he's one of the best returners and has one of the best passing
shots.
Granted, today I didn't feel like I had my best stuff. I think the conditions
didn't help, gave him more time to play. But combine all that, that's why
he's beaten me the last few times.
Q. Specifically you say he's the best wind player in the game. What are
the specific elements that lead you to that conclusion?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, because of his footwork, his ability to adjust, the
fact that he plays low to the ground. His shots and strokes are a lot more
compact, whereas mine are a little bit long. You're able to miss-hit, where
he's a lot more -- just more compact. That's better in the wind.
Even like a Michael Chang, just having those strokes, really helps out
in these conditions. With my strokes, tendency to miss a few, miss-hit a
couple. That's what happened today.
Q. You made some adjustments in your game. What do you think the results
of all these adjustments you are doing now in your game?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, just putting more time on the court, after my matches,
going out and hitting a few more balls. That result might not happen overnight,
but over the course of the year, hopefully I can get it going and win some
titles and win a major. That's my goal.
It's not going to happen overnight. You know, just trying to work on some
things, just trying to get better. You know, players are getting better.
I realize that I need to get myself in better shape, work on a few things
here and there.
You know, this week was a pretty good week - not what I wanted. But, you
know, get ready for Miami, work on a few things. Hopefully have a good tournament.
Q. Have you ever played a match where a 25-foot, several-hundred-pound
sign board blew over in the middle of a point?
PETE SAMPRAS: No. We kept on playing the point. He missed. Then he complained
about it afterwards, so that wasn't too cool.
I mean, that's wind. No question it was windy. I don't mind the wind, but
when it's blowing around in circles, that's when I struggle. When it's blowing
one way, you can adjust a bit. It seemed like it changed within a couple
minutes. I kind of struggled with that a little bit today.
On one side of the court, I felt like I could swing at it. All of a sudden
the wind would change and I couldn't. Just tough conditions for my game.
Q. It's obviously early, but could you talk more about Jose, what you've
been gaining from him.
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, there's not much to work on when I'm playing. I think
we both know that to really utilize Jose is my weeks off. That's the time
to really work on some things. There's only so much you can say when I go
out and play, a few things here and there.
It's the time off, it's the practice days. I mean, that's when I'm going
to learn some things and work on some things. That's what I think we're
both looking forward to after Davis Cup, just spending some time together,
working on some things, on the clay.
But right now we're just kind of just starting out, you know, it's been
a couple weeks.
Q. Is he a guy that says a lot before a match and after a match?
PETE SAMPRAS: Not a lot. Walking out there, a few things here and there,
he thinks I should maybe try. After the match, we talked for five, ten minutes
about the match. It's not very complicated. I mean, he knows the game well
enough and he knows my game quite well. He's watched me play for many years.
It's not a lot of information.
But I don't need a lot of information. You know, a couple things here and
there, that's pretty much it.
Q. Is he coming to Houston?
PETE SAMPRAS: I don't think so.
Q. Since the US Open, Lleyton has had a pretty good record. He seems to
be getting better every week. Can you think of a way that the guys on the
tour are going to have to adjust to him? Do you have to grind him down?
Hit winners past him? What's it going to take?
PETE SAMPRAS: I think he's kind of building on a lot of confidence for
the past six months. That's a good question. The type of player that will
beat Lleyton is someone that might blow him off the court. There's not many
guys that can do that, or someone that could grind him down, there's not
many guys that can do that.
I mean, guys know mentally he's tough to play. You know, he's very difficult
to play. He's going to fight hard and he competes well. You know, he reminds
me of a Michael Chang, but probably just a little better. Serves a little
better, has a little bit more pace, can come in a little bit.
But, you know, he is beatable. He's had a good last few months, but he's
got to back it up each week, guys are going to be coming, swinging for it.
He knows that.
But he's a great player. He's got some of the best speed out there. Mentally,
he's very strong. The key for Lleyton over the next six months, year, is
just mentally being able to go out there every time and be a hundred percent.
You know, he's got to work pretty hard to win his matches. This week he's
pretty much breezed through the tournament, so he'll be pretty fresh tomorrow.
Q. Would it be fair to say he's clearly the No. 1 right now?
PETE SAMPRAS: I think for now, the way the year is so fresh, he's playing
the best this week. You're only as good as your last week.
Yeah, I think the way he's playing, he's playing some of the best tennis
in the world.
Q. A couple weeks ago, Todd Martin made a comment that was surprising
to many in saying that Lleyton's serve was as good as any on the tour. Could
you comment on that?
PETE SAMPRAS: It's a good serve. I mean, it's not -- I mean, I won't say
it's one of the best. It's good. It's good enough for him to control the
point. It's gotten better. I wouldn't consider him, you know, a Krajicek
or someone that can blow you off the court. But it's a good serve that will
get you in the defense. You know, second serve is attackable. I just didn't
do that very well today.
It's an interesting comment, you know. But it's a good serve.
Q. How would you make a choice if your wife was nominated supposedly for
an Oscar, you're playing a match with Agassi, at the Lipton, she said, "Would
you come with me?"
PETE SAMPRAS: That's one I've never heard. If she was nominated for an
Oscar?
Q. Yes. March 24th, you're playing Lipton.
PETE SAMPRAS: Lipton, that's many years ago.
That's a good question. I would have to support my wife, you know. Having
won Miami before, I could be fine with it. If it was the French or Wimbledon,
she might have to understand (laughter).
Q. You won Wimbledon?
PETE SAMPRAS: Maybe I'll just take the French.
Q. You play Indian Wells.
PETE SAMPRAS: It's a two-hour drive from LA, I could make it, fit it all
in. 1227.
PETE SAMPRAS: Unfortunately, she wasn't nominated this year.
Q. Can you assess Tim and Todd's chances against Lleyton tomorrow?
PETE SAMPRAS: I think that depends on the conditions. I think if it's windy,
like it was today, I think it could be a tough day for either one of them
because it's just tough to serve. I think he just is such a dominating wind
player. But if it's fine conditions, I still think he's going to be tough
to beat. Three out of five, both those guys know they have to work hard
and dig deep.
Q. Three out of three.
PETE SAMPRAS: It is three out of three. I think that helps Todd or Tim.
I think Lleyton is the favorite. These guys will come in, be aggressive,
put some pressure on him. I think he's just had a great week. I think tomorrow,
if he plays well, which he always seems to do, I think he'll be fine.
Q. If you were to win Wimbledon again this year, would you consider the
year a success? Would it convince you to keep at it?
PETE SAMPRAS: I'm going to keep at it if it happens there or it doesn't
happen. And, sure, I always base the year on the majors. That's why last
year was kind of more disappointing than any year because I didn't win a
major. You know, that's where I'm at, just trying to improve and trying
to get back to winning a few majors here and there.
But, sure, anytime you win at Wimbledon, I mean, that's our Super Bowl,
so I'd love to do it again.
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