Sampras Crashes Out to Qualifier in Third Round
By: Steve Keating, ESPN
March 25, 2002
A llistless Pete Sampras was humbled 7-6 6-1 by Chilean qualifier Fernando
Gonzalez in the third round of the Nasdaq-100 Open Masters Monday, extending
the American's agonizing title drought to 24 tournaments.
After fighting his way through to the semifinals at the Indian Wells Masters
under the guidance of new coach Jose Higeuras, an enthusiastic Sampras arrived
at the Miami Masters -- an event he has won three times -- expecting to
add to his momentum.
But the 13-time Grand Slam winner's recent good form deserted him on the
Miami hardcourts.
"There's no comfort or cushion after getting beat the way I did today,''
said Sampras, who has not won a title since his seventh Wimbledon victory
nearly two years ago. "I just have to get back to work.
"I need to get back in good tennis shape and get back on the practice
court. I want to continue, I want to get better.
"Losing is something I don't ever like. There's not comfort in it.''
After narrowly slipping past Finland's Jarkko Nieminen in the second round,
Sampras could find no way around the 62nd ranked Chilean, who last season
won just five matches and none against players ranked in the top 100.
Sampras got the match off to the best possible start by breaking Gonzalez
at the first opportunity and surging to a 4-1 lead.
But the Chilean broke back at 4-3 and the set drifted to a tiebreak, which
Gonzalez easily won 7-1.
A deflated Sampras was unable to rebound from the disappointment as Gonzalez
roared to a 5-0 lead in the second set before closing out the match with
a thundering ace.
"I felt like I was playing pretty well coming in here,'' said Sampras.
"But you can't be content, you have to try and improve and get better.
This wasn't a good day.
"I got beat, I got outplayed and I have to give him credit. I just have
to get back to work and not panic. I have to look at the big picture and
the rest of the year.
"It's not the way I wanted it to go this week but there are a few more
big events coming up.''
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Sampras upset by Chilean qualifier at Key Biscayne
by: Steven Wine, AP
March 25, 2002
A Pete Sampras signature remains a valuable commodity, even after the
drubbing he endured Monday. That's why a cluster of kids leaned over the
first-row stadium railing, holding out oversized tennis balls for their
hero to sign.
Bad timing. The autograph-seekers had to settle for the sweaty wristband
Sampras flipped over his shoulder as he walked past without a glance and
disappeared into a tunnel, completing his hasty exit from the Nasdaq-100
Open.
Lopsided losses are becoming alarmingly commonplace for Sampras, but this
one was surprising because it was administered by a qualifier, Chilean Fernando
Gonzalez, who won 7-6 (1), 6-1.
The third-round upset made it 24 tournaments without a title for Sampras
since he won a record seventh Wimbledon championship in 2000. The drought
began shortly before he married actress Bridgette Wilson in September 2000,
which he admits may not be a coincidence.
"The years that I was No. 1, I was probably a little bit too consumed
with the sport,'' said the 30-year-old Sampras. "It's hard to say how really
happy I was. I was happy winning tournaments. But in order to stay up there
for as long as I did, it took a lot of sacrifice.
"You know, those days are over. I've lost enough hair over the years to
all the worries and all the stress that I put on myself. ... I'm married
and things couldn't be better. I just wish I could be playing a little bit
better.''
Commitment questions aside, Sampras' defeat reinforced the impression that
he has lost a step, making him late reaching volleys he once put away with
ease. He won only 22 of 48 points at the net against Gonzalez, perhaps the
hardest hitter on the men's tour.
"It wasn't a good day. I got outplayed,'' Sampras said. "I just have
to get back to work and not panic, and look at the big picture and the rest
of the year. It's not the way I wanted it to go this week. But we've got
a few more big events coming up.''
One is next week, when the U.S. Davis Cup team plays Spain in Houston.
With Sampras losing, the only member of the U.S. team to reach the fourth
round at Key Biscayne was James Blake, who beat No. 15 Guillermo Canas 6-4,
6-3.
The No. 11-seeded Sampras, a three-time champion at Key Biscayne, was eliminated
in the third round for the second year in a row. Gonzalez, 21, termed the
victory the biggest of his career.
"He's the best player ever,'' Gonzalez said. "I've been dreaming to play
with Sampras maybe, like, 12 years. I'm just happy to play with him.''
Gonzalez rallied from a 4-1 deficit and smacked a 130-mph ace to reach
6-6 in the opening set. In the tiebreaker, he dug a forehand out of the
corner to save the first point and took control from there, belting two
service winners and two baseline winners to close out the set.
As the second set progressed, Sampras looked increasingly overmatched,
and Gonzalez lost just seven points in the first five games. The rout was
reminiscent of Sampras' losses in the past two U.S. Open finals to Safin
and Lleyton Hewitt, only this time the opponent was an obscure Chilean ranked
62nd.
"You can't play conservative out there, and I think that happened a little
bit today,'' Sampras said. "I just tried to get the ball back in play,
and he controlled the match with his spin and his pace.''
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Miami Meltdown: Gonzalez Stuns Sampras In Straight Sets
By: Richard pagliaro, AP
March 26, 2002
Pete Sampras' body language spelled out defeat even more dramatically
than the scoreboard.
The hanging head, slumped shoulders, weary walk and morose mask that Sampras
wore as he stumbled sluggishly through the second set of today's 7-6 (7-1),
6-1 third-round loss to Francisco Gonzalez at the Nasdaq-100 Open revealed
a champion completely confounded by an energetic qualifier and powerless
to prevent his plight.
The hard-hitting Chilean, who won just five matches last year, became the
first qualifier to reach the fourth round of the Key Biscayne event since
Gianluca Pozzi two years ago. Gonzalez takes on sixth-seeded Marat Safin,
who survived a tough struggle from Luis Horna before scoring 3-6, 6-3, 7-6
(7-3) victory.
A year ago, Gonzalez did not beat anyone ranked in the top 100. With his
victory today, he raised his record to 13-3 on the season, including nine
victories over players in the top 100. Widely regarded as one of the hardest
hitters on the ATP Tour, a noticeably nervous Gonzalez was short-circuited
by his first appearance on the stadium court as he dropped four of the first
give games of the match.
On the strength of sweeping swings punctuated by growling grunts, Gonzalez
fought his way back into the match, winning 12 of the final 15 games to
overwhelm the stunned Sampras.
Broken in his first service game of the match, Gonzalez did not drop serve
the rest of the day. While he boldly blasted away from the baseline, Sampras
struggled to find the range on his shots, often flailing forehands off the
frame of his racquet and sometimes shanking slice backhands that settled
softly into the bottom of the net.
The 11th-seeded Sampras carried a 42-9 record at Key Biscayne into the
match, but played tentative tennis for much of the match. Gonzalez, who
frequently stood as far as seven feet behind the baseline while returning
serve, had ample time to set up for his shots and Sampras often looked surprise
when his serves were returned forcefully at his feet.
Serving to open the tiebreak, a stagnant Sampras stopped moving his feet
after guiding a forehand crosscourt and when Gonzalez ran down the shot
and replied with a running forehand that fell near the feet of his opponent
Sampras blocked a backhand volley into the net. The point was a prime example
of Gonzalez's high-energy contrasting with Sampras' sheer lethargy.
With veterans Alex Corretja and Marcelo Rios watching from the sidelines,
Gonzalez reduced Sampras to the role of retriever, moving him around the
court and watching a Sampras lob float long to take a 5-1 lead in the tiebreak.
Gonzalez reached set point with a forehand winner down the line and closed
out the set when Sampras bricked a backhand volley so badly it didn't even
reach the net.
If Sampras was lifeless in the first set, he was dead on arrival in the
second. By the time Gonzalez ripped an ace down the middle to seize a 5-0
lead it appeared Sampras was merely going through the motions. Gonzalez
ended the encounter two games later with a second serve ace and thrust his
arms in the air in triumph.
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TMS 2002 - Nasdaq 100, Miami (Round 3)
Post-Match Interview
Pete Sampras loses to F. Gonzalez
6-7,1-6
THE MODERATOR: Questions for Pete.
Q. Pete, you looked a little sluggish out there, like you were moving
a little slow. Any physical ailments?
PETE SAMPRAS: No. It was pretty warm, but physically, I felt fine.
Q. Have trouble with your serve today?
PETE SAMPRAS: No. I didn't serve all that well. You know, I was giving
him a lot of looks at some second serves. And the way he was returning and
passing,
it's tough to serve and volley out there on just about everything - the
conditions, when the ball are a little bit heavy. But you have to give him
credit. I mean, he played a great match.
But I didn't serve all that great. You know, didn't have the rhythm. And,
you know, I got off to the start I wanted. Got off to an early break. Didn't
get too many first serves for the rest of the set. Lost the breaker. He
hit some great shots. You have to give credit where credit is due. He played
as well as he could. I didn't play all that well.
He's a strong player; no question. He hits the ball very heavy off both
sides and he serves pretty well.
I think the key of the match was as far as my return of serve, it just
didn't make an impact on him. He was starting off the point hitting big
forehands. You can't afford to do that out here on this game. I need to
work on my return and doing something more with it, having more impact on
him instead of just trying to get back in play. That's what happened out
there in the second especially.
Q. James is actually the only one from the Davis Cup team who's still
on the hunt here. Does that at all affect the team when they show up at
Houston, that everybody didn't get too far? Or it's just another week?
PETE SAMPRAS: I think we'd all like to go into Houston, even though it's
on grass, for me, Roddick and Todd having played a little bit more, having
done better here. But all we can do at this point is start practicing and
get on to the grass Sunday or Monday, whenever we get there and just get
ready.
Would've been nice for me and my confidence going in there playing a little
bit better and having won a little bit more this week. But, you know, it's
going to start over, and get back to work and have a good week on grass.
Q. You had a lot of titles in the bank. You don't need to prove anything
to anybody. Does it make it easier to walk out of here and say, "I
have a couple things I need to do like my return, second serve," whatever
the case may be. Is that a comfort or a cushion to you?
PETE SAMPRAS: There's no comfort or cushion after getting beat the way
I did today. I just have to get back to work. You know, I know that. I need
to get in good tennis shape and just get back on the practice court.
Sure, I've done a few things over the years. But, yeah, I want to maintain
it. I want to continue. I want to get better.
And when you play and lose, it doesn't help the confidence. You feel like
you take a step back.
But, you know, all I can try to do is get back out there and get on the
practice court and work on a few things with Jose and really take some time
and just get back to work. You know, losing is something I don't ever like.
There's no comfort in it. You know, you just have to learn a little bit
and get ready for the next week, and that's really it.
Q. Is the work part less fun, more fun or the same as everything?
PETE SAMPRAS: I think practicing, it gets a little tougher as you get a
little older. Just I've never been much of a practice player. You know,
just, you know, talking to Jose a little bit, I think I'm not someone that's
going to be out there four or five hours. I just need to spend two hard
hours out there, get quality sessions. As you get older you need to keep
it fresh. At least for me, I can't practice every day. I need to play three
days, take a day off and whatever.
It's tougher as you get a little older. But in order to get better and
in order to beat some of these young guys you have to put in the work, and
I know that.
Q. Can a guy with 13 Grand Slams have his confidence shaken?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, it can happen. You know, and it's -- I felt like I
was playing pretty well coming in here. I was hitting the ball fine all
week. Even though I've won some tournaments over the years, I kind of appreciate
that and like it, but I don't think about it when I go out and play. It's
in the past and I'm just trying to get better from here on out.
And, you know, you can't be content; you just have to try and improve and
get better. But this wasn't a good day. I got beat. I got outplayed. I got
to give him credit.
But, you know, just have to get back to work here. And not panic, not --
just look at the big picture here a little bit and look at the rest of the
year. It's not the way I wanted it to go this week, but, you know, they
got a few more big events coming up here so it's something to look forward
to.
Q. Do you think you're playing with the free-swinging freedom you were
playing with when you were winning tournaments week after week? Are you
more careful with shots?
PETE SAMPRAS: I think the difference now is players are much better. Players
are much better than they were five years ago. Playing someone like I played
today who hit the ball very well and served very well, it's a little tougher.
You can't play conservative out there. You can't expect these guys to miss.
I think that happened a little bit today. I kind of tried to get the ball
back in play, and he just kind of controlled the match with his pace and
with his spin. And, you know, I had a few chances there in the first set,
but he, you know, he played a great match. I give him a lot of credit.
Q. Your life right now is probably as balanced as it's ever been. You
have this life outside of tennis. I was wondering, does that in some ways
make it tougher on the tennis? When you were No. 1 all those years, you
had that single-minded focus on it. In a weird way, does having a well-balanced
life make it difficult to do what you want to do tennis-wise?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, it's a good question. I mean, the years that I was
No. 1, I was probably a little bit too consumed with the sport. It's hard
to say how really happy I was. I was happy winning tournaments. But in order
to stay up there for as long as I did, it took a lot of sacrifice. You know,
those days are over. I've lost enough hair over the years to, you know,
all the worries and all the stress that I put on myself.
Now, sure, I'm at a different stage in my life. I still want to, you know,
get back to winning some Slams and contending for majors. And that's where
I'm at. These weeks are important weeks. You need to do well at these events.
All the top players are playing here, to go into the Slams with an aura,
which I had five years ago more than today. So that's the difference.
But, yeah, I'm very happy as a tennis player. I'm married and things couldn't
be better. I just wish I could be playing a little bit better. But that
will come sometime this year.
Q. Pete, could you compare your game now to several years ago.
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I just think my game is still there. I think the competition
has gotten tougher. I think guys are hitting the ball a little bit harder.
Hitting the ball a little bit better.
You know, and playing someone like the guy I played today, I've never seen
him play. So it was kind of a little unsettling whenever I play someone
I've never seen play.
But the game's still there. I just need to, you know, get in some good
tennis shape and get back on the practice court and put the time into it.
That's what I've been trying to do here, but it's not going to happen overnight.
It could take a little bit of time. I'm patient, but, you know, I want to
get back to winning some titles.
Q. Richard Krajicek is still trying to come back in tennis. What do you
think his place is in tennis history?
PETE SAMPRAS: I think Richard's someone that is one of the biggest games
in -- biggest serves, second serve in the game. He's put it all together
at Wimbledon. Someone that's given me a lot of problems over the years,
and just had an overwhelming game when he was on. I mean, really had all
the tools and moved well for a big guy. He was a great player.
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