Below-par Sampras beats Lee
Source: Reuters/AP
June 24, 2002
Pete Sampras, Seven-time
Wimbledon champion, showed no sign of the rib injury that threatened his
Wimbledon hopes on Monday when he defeated Britain's Martin Lee, 6-3, 7-6,
6-3, in the first round.
However, he did not looked remotely on top form, facing 18 break points
against Lee.
Lee had three break points in each of Sampras' opening two service games,
held two set points to level the match in the second, and then wasted four
points in the third.
All went begging, with Lee cracking his opponent's usually impregnable
serve just once - in the third set - only to immediately lose his own serve.
Sampras next faces Swiss lucky loser George Bastl.
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Sampras shrugs off rib pain and Lee
June 24, 2002
Arriving at the site of his last Grand Slam stand, Pete Sampras took a
seat. When the seven-time Wimbledon winner arrived at the All England Club
last week, he visited the court he has alled "tennis's cathedral"
sat down and took time out to reflect on his championship past before beginning
his quest for his first tournament title in two years.
"When I got here, the first thing I did was sat on Centre Court for
about 10 minutes and reflected on what I've done here," Sampras said.
"I believe I can still do it."
Eager to erase the memories of a subpar season that has seen the former
top-ranked player often reduced to spectator status on the court, Sampras
returned to Wimbledon today with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 first-round victory
over Britain's Martin Lee.
There were no signs of the strained rib that prompted Sampras to request
All England Club officials to move his opening-round match to Tuesday. Sampras
said his rib felt fine and would be a "non-issue the rest of the week."
"It was nothing serious ? a bit of a tear ? and it felt fine today,"
Sampras said. "I felt pretty good out there. I felt I played a bit
up and down, but the injury's fine and didn't affect my game and it's not
going to be an issue. All things considered, I'm pretty happy with this
match."
The 30-year-old Sampras raced out to a 4-0 lead and closed out the first
set in 36 minutes. In the second set, Sampras showed signs of vulnerablity.
Looking a step slow and a bit indecisive, Sampras won only seven of his
23 net approaches in the set and found himself serving to stay in the set
at 5-6.
The unheralded Lee, who entered the encounter on a 10-match losing streak,
had two set points in the 11th game, but could not convert as Sampras saved
the first by calmly chasing down a net cord shot and pushing a forehand
into the open court before delivering a service winner to save the second
and eventually force the tiebreak.
An emotionally deflated Lee, seemingly preoccupied with an opportunity
lost, offered little resistance as Sampras stormed through the tiebreak,
7-1. Lee converted only one of 19 break-point opportunities, while Sampras
capitalized on just three of his 12 break-point chances.
The backhand has traditionally been Sampras's weakest stroke as well as
a barometer of his confidence. When he lacks confidence, Sampras tends to
chip short backhand returns rather than hitting through the ball and today
he was content to play cautious backhand returns that lacked the bite to
threaten the Briton's serve.
The Sampras serve, once the most dominant shot in men's tennis, has become
even more crucial to his success as Sampras took greater risk on his second
serve. He offset 13 double faults with 27 aces, but won only 41 percent
of his second-serve points ? a stat he will undoubtedly need to improve
if he is to make a serious run at the title he last won in 2000 when he
captured his record-breaking 13th Grand Slam crown.
"I just feel I have a major or two left in me," Sampras said.
"I still believe I can do it. If I didn't believe that, I wouldn't
be here."
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2002 Wimbledon - Round 1
Post-Match Interview
Pete Sampras defeats Martin Lee
6-3, 7-6, 6-3
June 24, 2002
MODERATOR: Ladies and Gentlemen, questions.
Q. How is the injury? Did that affect your game?
PETE SAMPRAS: The injury's fine. It didn't affect my game.
Q. Could you take us through the process of yesterday, what time you
asked to play? Did you ask for a Tuesday start? What happened? What was
the response from the club?
PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, yeah, I asked to play on Tuesday. I figured it was
a longshot, which I understand. I mean, they want to keep all the halves
the same. He just said, "How about playing third?" I said, "I'll
take that." That's what happened. Pretty simple.
Q. Did you think that playing third made a difference?
PETE SAMPRAS: Probably helped a little bit. You know, not having to play
quite as early, you know, gives you a little bit more time to prepare and
get ready. It wasn't a huge difference, but every little hour helps sometimes.
Q. Does it feel okay now?
PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, it's fine. I just kind of strained a little bit of
something off my rib, and it's fine. It really -- didn't feel it much today.
You know, I didn't practice yesterday. A little concerned. But today I felt
like I had a good warm-up. Just went out and played, and it was fine. It's
not going to be an issue.
Q. Saturday, what was your level of concern right after it happened?
PETE SAMPRAS: Sure, it's a big concern whenever you feel anything. You
know, there's always a little bit of soreness here and there. But there
are things you can just play through. I was concerned two days before the
tournament. You don't want to be feeling anything. You want to be feeling
fresh and ready to go. Any time you feel a little thing and you can't practice,
sure, it's a little unsettling. But, you know, I practiced this morning,
got a little bit of a rhythm out there, and played okay today.
Q. As first round matches go, given the fact you're playing a Brit on
Centre Court, was that as good a workout as you could have hoped for?
PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, I felt pretty good. I felt like I played in spurts.
Martin, I thought, played really well. I thought he served well and returned
quite well. Always a little bit tricky when you play a lefty on grass. Down
a couple set points, a couple tense moments. I felt like I played a little
bit up and down, but I think he played very well and served well. But all
in all, first match is always one you just want to get through. You know,
I was happy I won in straight sets.
Q. After the year you've had so far, I know you talked about coming back
here. Anything encourage you in this match that you may go a long ways in
this tournament?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, whenever -- you know, when you struggle a little bit,
you get through it, it feels good. You'd much rather dominate. But, you
know, as long as I'm still in, I still feel like I'm a big threat. It was
nice to play today on the Centre Court. It felt good. It has been a pretty
difficult year. Stepping on there, it was like coming home again. So I'm
always pretty comfortable out there.
Q. Did you do things today in a sustained fashion, not just one or two
points, that felt very much like the way you played when you were winning
this tournament year after year, and that you haven't had in matches earlier
this year?
PETE SAMPRAS: My serving. You know, there are times today that I felt
like my serving was unhittable. I didn't maintain it too long, but I felt
like it was a pretty good rhythm today. I felt like there were spurts I
did play at a pretty high level. But there were spurts I was playing careless,
missing a little bit here and there, missing some volleys, just really not
that sharp. But there were signs I was playing at a pretty high level at
times. As the tournament goes on, you need to play at a high level more
consistently. Today I wasn't that consistent.
Q. Any part of your game you're not quite happy with?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, you know, looking at some stats, I didn't really serve
all that well. Missed a lot of first serves. He had a lot of looks at my
second serve. I paid the price a few times. But I need to serve a little
better. But, yeah, I think I'll get better as the week goes on. First one
is always kind of one you just want to get through. But I can serve a little
bit better.
Q. Does this remind you a little bit of 2000 when you had the rumor of
being injured and you won?
PETE SAMPRAS: No, that was a little bit more serious. This was not anywhere
near in the same ballpark.
Q. You talk about feeling at home, coming home here. Obviously you played
on grass at Halle. Do you feel so much more comfortable here, even though
it's the same surface, but the fact you're at Wimbledon compared to Halle?
PETE SAMPRAS: You know, no disrespect to Halle, it was a great tournament.
You know, the court, you know, isn't the same as it is here. A few bad bounces.
Here it's very true, it's very consistent. You step out on Centre Court,
it's like a mecca out there. You just feel that more here than anywhere
else in the world. US Open, French Open, those are great events, but Centre
Court at Wimbledon, there's something very special whenever you step out
there. I feel like I kind of came back home today.
Q. Feeling the back, when you wake up in the morning, is that when you
knew you were going to be okay?
PETE SAMPRAS: Once I warmed up, had a pretty good hit up, that's when
it wasn't really bothering me, that's when I felt I had some peace of mind.
Yesterday was a little uncomfortable. Took some tests. It wasn't anything
serious. It's just something that happened. You know. It's going to be a
non-issue.
Q. What was it actually diagnosed as?
PETE SAMPRAS: A muscle kind of -- microtear off the rib that, you know,
isn't serious. It's going to be a non-issue. I mean, really .
Q. Did it come on a hit? Did you feel it as you swung the racquet?
PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, I felt it, sudden movement. You know, it was kind
of a cold morning getting ready for the exhibition. You know, I felt it.
That was it. I just stopped.
Q. It was very warm today for London. Was that significant in terms of
helping you stay warm out on the court?
PETE SAMPRAS: It helps. It helps for your whole body. Whenever it's warm,
you feel a little bit looser. Your body's all loose, the back is loose.
It's nice to see it was a warm day, which helped me out.
Q. You got to an enormous number of dropshots today.
PETE SAMPRAS: I felt like I was moving pretty well for an older guy (laughter).
Q. You were supposed to be first on Centre Court, is that right?
PETE SAMPRAS: Yes.
Q. Any thought to you taking over that spot from Goran?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, it's always an honor when you step on there first
match out. For the tournament to select me felt good to open it up again.
But, you know, obviously I was more concerned about other things. Playing
later helped me out a little bit. It would have been nice, but I'm just
happy with the win today.
Q. Are you needing any medications for the pain?
PETE SAMPRAS: I'm always on medication, can't you tell (laughter)? Rogaine
(laughter).
Q. Is it working?
PETE SAMPRAS: I'm not on it. I'm looking for a sponsorship, you know (smiling).
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