Sampras enters Rome Masters with a bit more confidence on clay
May 5, 2002
In the twilight years of a glorious career, Pete Sampras finally seems serious about his clay-court game.
The 30-year-old Sampras enters this week's dlrs 2.8 million Rome Tennis Masters Series event with one clay-court final under his belt this season and more significantly, a new coach who knows the red dirt as well as anyone.
The 13-time Grand Slam champion hired Spanish coach Jose Higueras earlier this year with one eye squarely on the only major title he has not won, the French Open.
It was a significant shift for Sampras, whose most recent long-term coach was serve-and-volley specialist Paul Annacone. Higueras reached the French Open semifinals as a player in 1982-83, and coached American Jim Courier to consecutive French Open titles in 1991-92.
"It's a surface that I've struggled on over the years,'' Sampras, whose only win at Foro Italico came in 1994, said after hiring Higueras. "Jose's got a lot of experience coaching and playing on the clay. He knows what clay-courters think when they play a big server like me.''
So will Higueras guide Sampras to that elusive French Open title?
"Maybe, but I hope he wins in Rome first,'' said Rome tournament director and former champion Adriano Panatta.
Sampras, who faces an immediate test in the first-round of this French Open warm-up against Spaniard Felix Mantilla, will be looking to continue his strong clay-court play from last month's U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship, where he lost in the final to fellow American Andy Roddick.
The 19-year-old, who will be making his first appearance on the slow surface in Rome, received high praise from his more established counterpart after their match in Houston.
"I just played someone who is going to win a lot of Grand Slam tournaments,'' Sampras said of Roddick. "I think the future of American tennis is bright. He'll be a threat in the French.''
Roddick returned the compliment by giving credit to the reigning champions of American tennis.
"I think Pete is playing well -- and Andre (Agassi) and there are a couple of other young guys so I'm in that group,'' Roddick said. "I definitely wish the best for those guys.''
"The last time I played well here in Rome, I won the title," said Sampras on the eve of the tournament. "So I think I'm due another one. I've been spending a lot of time on the clay, I've put in a lot of hours and my biggest concern right now is the clay season."
Taking on Felix Mantilla for the fifth time in his career in the first round (Sampras leads 3-1), the 30-year-old American feels up to the challenge. "I feel pretty confident and I'm playing well," said Sampras. "When I'm playing well, it doesn't matter what surface I'm playing on. But Felix is definitely one of the toughest matches you can get in the first round."
Despite his surprising loss to Alex Corretja in the Davis Cup on grass in Houston last month, Sampras has big plans for 2002. "I'm still optimistic for the rest of the year," said Sampras, who has not won a title since Wimbledon 2000. "The real meat of the season is coming up over the next few months and I feel like I can still compete for the major titles, beginning here in Rome."
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