U.S. beats Argentina
May 21, 2002
Pete Sampras edged Guillermo Canas 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (5) on Tuesday, leading the United States to a 2-1 victory over Argentina at the World Team Cup.
"It was very satisfying to finally win a close one," Pete Sampras said.
Sampras, who suffered first-round defeats on clay courts in Rome and Hamburg, has won 13 Grand Slam titles, but the French Open -- the only major on clay -- has eluded him.
"It was very satisfying to finally win a close one," Sampras said. "I was a little fortunate at the end and was happy I squeaked it out. It was as close as it's going to get, 5-5 in the breaker, anything can happen."
Sampras failed to convert a break point at 4-3 in the third set, and a big forehand down the line gave him a match point at 5-4, but he dumped a forehand into the net. He then served an ace to get out of trouble as he faced a break point at 5-5.
"I squeaked out a couple of tough break points in the third and got the serve going when I had to, in the breaker," Sampras said.
To improve his game on clay, Sampras hired former clay court champion Jose Higueras as his coach.
"I've put in a lot of work over the past month or so, and whether working with Jose on clay is a benefit, we'll see," Sampras said. "Jose does understand clay a little bit more and he can help me.
"The times I've been successful at the French are the times I've stayed back, but I can't do that forever. I definitely need to come in and use my athletic ability and my shots up at net."
In the other singles match, Andy Roddick defeated Jose Acasuso 6-3, 6-2, while Lucas Arnold and Gaston Etlis downed James Blake and Jared Palmer 7-5, 6-2 in the doubles.
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