Sampras' problem not physical
April 15, 2002
Is Pete Sampras through?
That seems to be the popular question in the tennis world following Sampras'collapse against Alex Corretja in Davis Cup play last weekend at Westside Tennis Club. A nervous Spanish journalist and underachiever Yevgeny Kafelnikov broached the subject, and both were met with disdain.
"Let's not forget the run he had at the U.S. Open last year (when he beatPatrick Rafter, Andre Agassi and Marat Safin in consecutive matches), which was merely six months ago," said Davis Cup coach Jim Courier. "No one was questioning his ability then, but everybody forgets pretty quickly in this sport."
However, the facts do not lie. Sampras lost a two-sets-to-none lead on grass for the first time in his career to a player who hadn't played Wimbledon since 1998 and likely would have never played another grass-court match in his career if it wasn't for Davis Cup.
Sampras, in the midst of a 24-tournament run without a title, has lost three of his last four matches, eight of his last 12 sets, and four of his last five tiebreakers. The last stat might be the most remarkable because there once was a time when Sampras was nearly invincible playing tiebreakers.
Physically, it appears Sampras is still formidable. He had consecutive aces of 131, 135 and 132 mph at the Nasdaq-100 Open in Miami, and some improved offseason training has him as fit as ever.
Mentally ... that's another question. Right now, Sampras doesn't look like he believes he can close out a tough match, and because of that, no one fears him. That combination especially becomes obvious in tiebreakers, in which Sampras is now making double faults and netting volleys where he once was firing aces or finishing his first volley.
"I have a ton of confidence," Sampras said when asked whether he was doubting himself after the loss to Corretja. "You know, I had chances to break him, and things could have changed with a couple of shots. And I was in every service game. Over the years, sure, those were times that I raised it a level and got that big point and all of a sudden I'm serving for the match, but that's not from a lack of confidence.
"You just try to do your best and believe in yourself, and I did, but it just didn't happen. You're not going to win every close match out there."
Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe, who has been Sampras' biggest fan and supporter, had to admit that he's not seeing the same player who won seven Wimbledon titles.
"Jim and I see what Pete can do out there on the practice court every day, and that doesn't lie, but obviously he needs to get his confidence going a little bit when he gets out there in matches," McEnroe said. "And that's going to come from gutting it out in a couple of matches where maybe he doesn't play well."
What seems to bother Sampras, as well as McEnroe and Courier, more than anything is that outsiders are suggesting he should retire.
"If anybody's earned the right to make that call without hearing it from the peanut gallery, it's Pete Sampras," Courier said. "And Pete Sampras will know when it's time, and he'll let everybody know, although I doubt Yevgeny will be getting a call."
If Sampras were ready to throw in the towel, he certainly wouldn't be coming back to Houston to play in the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships. Clay is his least-favorite surface, but his new coach, Jose Higueras, has had a pair of French Open champions in Courier and Michael Chang. He might not be able to work the same magic with Sampras, but he is a big proponent of on-the-court practice and playing as many matches as you can.
"If Pete is willing to do what Jose wants him to do, I don't see a reason why -- as long as his body is also willing - - he's not going to get back to a level that he is very proud of," Courier said.
With the addition of Sampras, the Clay Courts field is star-studded with
the likes of Agassi, Andy Roddick, Tommy Haas, James Blake, Todd Martin,
Wayne Ferreira and Jan-Michael Gambill. Things could change in the next
week, but if the seeds were assigned now by the ATP, they would go in this
order: Haas, Agassi, Roddick, Sampras, Blake, Ferreira, Martin and Gambill.
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