Sampras huddles with NFL Europe
Source: CNNSI
May 23, 2002
U.S. World Team Cup players Pete Sampras, James Blake and Jared Palmer
spent Wednesday afternoon doing drills -- and sharing photo opportunities
-- with NFL Europe team Duesseldorf Rhein Fire.
"As a kid, I didn't play much American football because of my tennis,
so I really enjoy the opportunity to meet up with the players," said
Sampras. "It's very intimidating to set up behind these big guys in
the offensive line. An avid fan of the Dallas Cowboys and the NFL, Pete
Sampras was pleased to meet Rhein Fire quarterback Tee Martin, who is on
loan from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"I sat in the stands and watched Tee bring home the national championship
for University of Tennessee back in 1999," he said.
Martin gave some quick instructions in the huddle, and Sampras drilled
a 25-yard pass to James Blake.
"This man has a gun in his arm," said Martin.
Currently second in the league, the Rhein Fire play the Berlin Thunder
this upcoming Sunday. Duesseldorf is the host city for the World Bowl on
June 22.
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US blow opportunities in loss to Sweden
source: ATP
May 23, 2002
World Team Cup 2002
Sweden def USA 2:0
Thomas Johansson def Pete Sampras 6-2, 6-7(3), 7-6(5)
Thomas Enqvist def James Blake 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (4)
Sweden pulled all the tricks out of their bag on Thursday, but unfortunately
it wasn't enough to lift the Swedes into Saturday's final.
Despite finishing round-robin play with a 2-1 record, Sweden's lost to
Argentina on Monday permitted the Swedes from getting the nod into the finals.
Still, Sweden impressed the crowd gathered at the Rochusclub by saving
three match points as Americans Pete Sampras and James Blake could not convert
their opportunities at victory.
With the possible berth to the final on the line, Thomas Enqvist and Thomas
Johansson were victorious in their matches to elevate Sweden's tie record
to 2-1. Johansson saved two match points in the third set to defeat Sampras,
6-2, 6-7(3), 7-6(5) in a 2 hour, 26 minute battle, while Enqvist saved a
match point en route to defeating Blake, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(4).
Sampras, whose three matches this week were decided by a third set tie-break,
held match points while serving at 5-4 and 6-5 in the third set. Johansson
was able to break Sampras in both games and force the deciding tie-break.
"I had the chance to win, but I wasn't patient enough," Sampras
said. "I rushed too much and I'm sad we couldn't make it to the final.
It was a very, very tight match and it could have gone either way."
"Once I missed a couple of serves, I pressed a bit and missed some
backhands and kind of rushed things," Sampras said. "On clay,
you can't expect to bomb a couple of serves and hold, and today I got a
little impatient."
Blake was one point away from taking a 1-0 lead on Sweden in the opening
match, holding a match point against Thomas Enqvist at 5-4 in the third
set. But the Swede held his serve and eventually won the match in the tie-break.
"The whole match was very tough," Enqvist said "(Blake)
was going for his shots and he has a great forehand."
Enqvist has won all three of his matches this week, defeating Jose Acasuso
on Monday, Nicolas Escude on Tuesday and Blake on Thursday. While the Swede
doesn't consider clay his best surface, he is pleased with the way he has
played this week.
"I think I have played well the whole week, winning three good matches,"
Enqvist said. "The last few years I've played much better on clay."
Blake won the first set in their 2 hour, 32 minute affair, but Enqvist
got a break in the second and held off Blake in the third for the win.
Blake was a late addition to the lineup to replace Andy Roddick. Roddick
pulled out of Thursday's match because he is suffering from patella tendonitis
in his left knee and has also been experiencing some discomfort in his right
wrist.
The young American felt disappointed after dropping the match to Enqvist.
"Losing when representing your team is one of the worst feelings you
can have," Blake said. "I feel terrible and that's part of the
learning process, I guess."
Blake felt like he had an opportunity to get a break in the second set
and was disappointing about not being about to close out the match in the
third.
"I just couldn't convert," Blake said. "I had to take advantage
of the chances I had and just didn't do it."
James Blake On...Losing to Enqvist: "I haven't felt like this since
college," said Blake, a former Harvard product. "It would have
really helped me winning that match. I'm just a bit low on confidence at
the moment."
How he feels on clay: "I feel a lot better on clay now than I did
a month ago. I feel like I'm in enough good shape and I'm playing pretty
good tennis."
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