Bastl blast away Pistol Pete
source: Ananova
June 26, 2002
Swiss lucky loser George
Bastl sensationally sent Pete Sampras spinning out of Wimbledon on Court
Two - the infamous graveyard of champions.
The seven-times champion conceded the first two sets rather lamely, then
fought back to 2-2 before being broken once in the final set to bow out
6-3 6-2 4-6 3-6 6-4.
Bastl was beaten in the qualifiers and only got into the main draw when
Spain's Felix Mantilla withdrew with an ankle injury.
But he defied his world ranking of 145 as Sampras dropped his serve twice
in the opening set. Bastl secured the first break to go 4-3 ahead when Sampras
tamely dumped a backhand volley into the net.
He captured a second successive break to win the set with a sizzling forehand
down the line which Sampras could only watch.
Sampras plunged deep into trouble, having his serve broken twice more
as he lost the second set 6-2 to go 2-0 down.
Bastl broke him for the third successive service game when the former
champion tamely put a forehand into the net to go 2-0 behind. Sampras was
totally outplayed in the game, being left flat- footed by an exquisite lob,
beaten powerfully down both flanks and then left rooted to the spot after
racing to a drop shot - only to see a crosscourt forehand flash past him.
The American had a break point in the seventh game but Bastl redeemed
himself for an earlier double fault by serving his way out of trouble -
and immediately broke his opponent for the fourth time to take the set.
Sampras kept his hopes alive by taking the third set 6-4. He finally broke
Bastl's serve at the 10th attempt to take a 2-1 lead.
Services dominated after that with neither showing any sign of cracking
again. Bastl stayed in contention at 5-4 down with a superb ace down the
middle before Sampras, after glaring at a linesman who called one of his
serves out, clinched the set.
Sampras took the fourth set 6-3 to level the match at two sets all after
two and a half hours.
He broke serve for only the second time in the match to move 3-2 ahead,
going 40-0 up before converting the second break point.
Sampras, aided by a delicate drop shot and two double faults from the
Swiss player, broke again to go into a fifth set for the 47th time in his
career.
It took just one break from Bastl in the deciding set for Sampras' miserable
season to take its most crushing blow yet.
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Sampras skids out
source: Reuters
June 26, 2002
Torn from his beloved
Centre Court, seven times winner Pete Sampras has become the latest corpse
on Wimbledon's graveyard of champions, falling in an epic five-set second
round defeat to 145th ranked Swiss George Bastl.
The 6-3 6-2 4-6 3-6 6-4 defeat on the jinxed court two marks the earliest
exit from Wimbledon for Sampras since losing in the second round in 1991
and tarnishes the shine on his glittering career.
Bastl was a lucky loser from qualifying to get into the main draw but
did not need luck against the winner of a record 13 grand slam crowns.
A serve like a mule's kick and unwavering belief were enough to secure
him the biggest win of his career.
Blinking back tears, the 27-year-old Swiss saluted the intimate crowd
after clinching victory when Sampras thumped a forehand long, and shook
his head, marvelling at the magnitude of his achievement.
Since Sampras made his debut in 1989, the loss is only a seventh at Wimbledon
for the American, seeded sixth this time.
More accustomed to the rarified atmosphere of Centre Court, Sampras sat
bemused in his chair, head bowed, as the cacophony of noise went on around
him.
The evening two years ago when he clinched his seventh Wimbledon crown
and record-breaking 13th grand slam title, seemed a very long time ago.
He was escorted off court and through the thronged masses, head bowed,
in the middle of a circle of security men back to the player's compound.
Sampras -- who had not played on court two since 1999 -- started comfortably
enough, showing no sign of the rib injury he picked up at an exhibition
event last week.
He looked upset at being relegated to the relative anonymity of the court
notorious for claiming big-name scalps, but there was nothing to suggest
he would lose to the Swiss.
But it was Bastl who stole the first break, in the seventh game, and pulled
into a one-set lead.
Returning sharply, the Swiss romped into a 3-0 lead in the second set
and clinched it with another break in the eighth game as Sampras huffed
and puffed and his fate looked dicey.
But as the sun scorched down, the snap returned to his serve and the spring
to his step as he fought his way back into the match.
He clinched the third and fourth sets with some beautiful net play crisp
volleying, but Bastl was not about to let the best result of his life slip
from between his fingers.
His anticipation returned and in an edgy fifth set he pounced in the ninth
game. A powerful backhand pass set up break point and another sharp return
forced Sampras to make the half- volley error for the break.
Bastl did not need another chance and served out on his first match point
for a glorious win.
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Sampras swipes at organizers after shock exit
Source: Reuters
June 26, 2002
Seven-times champion Pete Sampras has taken a swipe at Wimbledon organisers
after he was relegated to an outside court for his shock second round defeat.
More accustomed to the rarified atmosphere of Centre Court, Sampras was
dumped on the notorious court two -- an intimate arena where many big names
have perished -- for his match against Swiss George Bastl.
The winner of a record 13 grand slam titles suffered a painful 6-3 6-2
4-6 3-6 6-4 reverse on the sun-scorched 'Champions' Graveyard' before hitting
out at officials.
"When I heard I wasn't happy about it lets put it that way,"
he said afterwards.
"Having won this thing a few times I didn't figure they would put
me out there but it is a moot point now.
"It is a different atmosphere. It is a very small court and not as
comfortable. That being said it is still a match I should have come through
and should have won.
"I have seen some upsets out there and it happened to me today, unfortunately."
But Sampras, without a title since winning here in 2000 and clinching
the record 13th grand slam, vowed to return.
"There is no question whether I will return or not. I will be back,"
he said.
"This is more of a shock to me than any other defeat here. But anything
can happen on any given day no matter who you are playing.
"It is disappointing ... it is going to be a tough flight home. A
tough couple of weeks knowing this is going on and I am not here.
"But I plan on being back. I am not going to end my time here with
that loss.
"I wish I was playing out there on one of the show courts. It is
a tough loss. I really felt I could do it here... I am really bummed out.
"As long as I feel I can win majors I will play. But right now I
am discouraged. To come up pretty empty here is discouraging.
"I may not be as dominant as I once was but I feel I can come up
with it at the majors.
"It just didn't happen here."
Back to Archives - 2002 | News
2002 Wimbledon - Round 2
Post-Match Interview
Pete Sampras loses to George Bastl
3-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 4-6
THE MODERATOR: Questions.
Q. You seemed to have gotten it together in the fifth set. You had him
in a lot of trouble throughout the set.
PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah. I was putting a lot more pressure on his service games
than he was putting on me in the fifth. 4-all, 30-love, he hit a good return,
double-faulted and happened pretty quickly. I had my chances. Had one breakpoint
there in the fifth. He hit a pretty good second serve. And, you know, I
give him credit. He played a good match. I wasn't at my best. But I felt
like I was going to win the match, even though I was down two sets to love.
Just kind of get my game going a little bit there in the third and really
felt like I was going to win the match.
Q. Explain the first two sets, your inability to get going in the first
two sets.
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, my serve. My serve just let me down. In part, it was
the one side, the sun , wasn't easy to serve on that one side. There's always
one shot that I can rely on when I'm not hitting the ball that well, is
my serve. It was a shot that I -- I don't know what my percentage was there
in the first couple, but wasn't getting any in. He was playing great. But
just told myself to hang in there in the third and hopefully get some momentum,
and I did. Things were looking pretty good there.
Q. Were you surprised to be assigned to Court 2?
PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah. Wasn't happy about it. You know, much rather have
been on one of the Show Courts. But anything can happen out there on any
court. But I'd much rather have played him somewhere where I'm a little
bit more comfortable. But it's still a tennis court, still the same dimensions.
And, you know, I give him credit. But I felt like I was going to come through
today.
Q. What was the thing about playing on Court 2 that made it tougher?
PETE SAMPRAS: Just a different atmosphere. Playing on the Stadium or Court
1, so used to playing out there. Court 2 is a very small court and, you
know, just not quite as comfortable. But with that being said, it's still
a match I should come through and win, no matter what court I play on.
Q. Were you aware of its reputation as the graveyard of champions?
PETE SAMPRAS: Say again?
Q. Are you aware of its reputation as the graveyard of champions?
PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, I've been told that. I've seen some upsets out there.
It happened to me today, unfortunately.
Q. Do you think it showed disrespect, some disrespect, to put you out
there?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, let's just put it this way: When I heard it, I wasn't
happy about it. I really would much rather have gone on a different court,
a Show Court. But listen, that's a scheduling. You just have to play on
any court. Having won this thing a few times, I figure they might put me
out there. But it's really a moot point right now.
Q. Given the event is so special to you, all the things that have happened
today, clearly this is as shocking as you've ever had here, even last year?
PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, this is more of a shock to me. You know, really it
happened. You know, anything can happen on any given day against -- no matter
who you're playing, especially on the grass. As predictable as I've been
over the years here, you're going to have a match like this once every ten
years. And it happened today. Disappointing. Fought hard to get back into
the match. But it's going to be a tough flight home, a tough next couple
weeks, just knowing that this is going on and I'm not here. So... That's
pretty disappointing.
Q. You've always said that no matter what happens in the season, when
the grass courts come around, when Wimbledon happens, there's a spirit that
comes to you, a fire. Are we going to see you back here, and are we going
to see you in the winner's circle again? What's the future for Pete Sampras?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, the future is flying home. That's the immediate future.But
long-distance future, I plan on being back. You know, I'm not going to end
my time here with that loss. And so...
Q. Is that because, you know, you don't want to go out on that particular
court? You'd rather go out, if you do go out, on the Centre or No. 1 where
you should go out, if, in fact, that is the case?
PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, I mean, I wish I was playing out there on one of the
Show Courts. But, you know, I plan on being back. I mean, I love playing
here. It's a tough loss. I really felt like I could do it here. I just came
up short today. Pretty bummed out.
Q. What were you reading between the points?
PETE SAMPRAS: Just some notes. Just some thoughts and a letter that I
was reading just to keep me positive and, you know, just to -- you get your
mind set on what's happening out there. It's nice to have something else
to look at, think about. So it was something that I pulled out and read
it and made me feel a little better.
Q. Your own notes? Notes you wrote yourself?
PETE SAMPRAS: My wife did.
Q. You used to do that?
PETE SAMPRAS: I've never done that.
Q. As Becker said, "If I go to a Slam, I cannot win it, I will stop."
Is that also a moment for you now, or do you think there's still a Slam
in you?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, as long as I feel like I can win majors and contend,
I'll just -- I'll continue to play.
But right now I am discouraged. I put a lot of work into the year, put
a lot of high expectations. And to come up pretty empty here for the first
six months is pretty, pretty discouraging. You know, still feel like I can
go out there and do it. Not maybe as dominant as I once was, but when it
comes to majors, I believe I can win here, the US Open, or the others. But,
you know, this one is my best chance. I mean, they're all ones I feel like
I can win. But this one is one that's always kind of saved my year a little
bit. You know, just didn't happen here.
Q. What do you think happened to the confidence you used to have closing
out matches? Where has it gone?
PETE SAMPRAS: You know, when you struggle winning matches all year and
you don't really get into a groove or rhythm and you just can't expect to
just come in here and have it click, like it used to. You know, players
aren't quite as intimidated by my name. You know, still have that here.
But he had nothing to lose today. You know, he came out swinging away and
played great. But, you know, I had my chances. I just couldn't replay some
of the points. Had a few chances maybe there to serve for the match. Just
a little -- got a little unfortunate today.
Q. Were you surprised that he held his game so well in the fifth?
PETE SAMPRAS: I wasn't that surprised. I mean, he was playing well all
day. And, you know, I think he showed some nerves there. I felt it going
my way there when I was making it more -- had a lot of deuce games, had
a breakpoint, and had some chances to maybe convert it and serve for the
match. He held on. And, you know, 4- All, 30-Love, I had a service game
that should have gone my way. You know, he hit a couple good shots. And
it happens pretty quick out there, the momentum. It just kind of -- still
just walking off the court, still just a little bit shocked of what happened
out there.
Q. Is there any similarity with this and the match with Safin in Australia
when you seemed to play pretty poorly the first couple sets, took you a
while to get going? Any reason for those matches where you don't start too
well?
PETE SAMPRAS: I really didn't think much of that match. I mean, you can't
dig yourself holes against these guys in majors. You can't be down two sets
to love against Safin or the guy I played today. You know, you work hard
to get back in there and, you know, once the fifth set comes, it's a matter
of nerves. He had the better nerve today.
Q. How far would you say you have to pay the price now for having widened
the game while you were still at the top?
PETE SAMPRAS: I don't understand the question. I'm a little confused with
your question.
Q. Coaches like Bob Brett say you might have to pay the price now for
having improved the game -- not having improved the game while you were
still leading from the others. Now that they've caught up, they are in front
of you, they are better, because you haven't got that in your game.
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I still feel like my game is very dangerous, you know.
Always will have my serve. You know, players are better today and, you know,
like I said, I'm not as intimidating as I was five years ago. Players are
better. You know, I need to work on some things and start getting my confidence
going. You know, I was hoping I could get through this first week and raise
it in the second. But, you know, a match like today, it just happened. And
all I can try to do is, when the time's right, get back at it and get back
to work. But as of right now, it's not really what I want to do.
Q. This loss is so recent, can you begin to assess how this fits into
your career? You've spoken about the Edberg Open. Is this one?
PETE SAMPRAS: It's gonna be -- it's hard to say right now what it's going
to feel like over the next week or so. I'm sure I'll reflect on kind of
what's happened here and the first six months of the year. But right now
I don't know. I'm going to be pretty down and disappointed. I was looking
forward to getting it going and winning a major here. You have your highs
and lows, and this is definitely a low point.
Q. As low as any? As low as Edberg?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, pretty low. You know, especially the bar that I've
set for myself over the years, and especially here at this tournament. So
that's why I'm pretty down on what happened here.
Q. Are you worried that this could be the last chance of getting the
Wimbledon title?
PETE SAMPRAS: No. No, I'm not. I was looking forward to the chance and
the opportunity this year, but you just have to face the facts that I'm
out.
And, you know, plan on coming back next year and the years after as long
as I feel like I can do it. And this is not the way I'm going to end it
here. You know, I want to end it on a high note and so I plan on being back.
Q. Is that what you were kind of saying to yourself as you were sitting
there at the end? You took quite a long time, sort of looking at your racquet
and twiddling with things. Is that what you were thinking, "I don't
want it to end like this?"
PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, I was thinking that. I don't want it to -- I'm going
to be back. There's not a question if I'm going to be back or not back.
And I just -- it all happened so quickly from 4-All, a matter of five minutes,
boom, I lost the match. You just kind of sit there, you're a little bit
numb sitting there. Just kind of I lost. It's not a feeling that I like,
not a feeling that I felt, especially here at Wimbledon.
Q. Mentally, how can a great champion like yourself put a great defeat
like this behind you, turn it around and have the confidence mentally?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I've always said when you go through certain moments
of your career and you're struggling, it just -- it takes time, you know.
I mean, time heals, when you're a little bit down. But I'm going to have
to go through it. And that's not what I'm looking forward to, just being
home and just kind of not really sure kind of what to do with myself. Kind
of just have to get through it. You know, the Open is still out there, but
it's going to take some time for me to kind of regroup here and look forward
to working hard and playing again.
Q. How much do you look at your legacy and think about it in terms of
whether it's being diminished by these losses, and how much do you think,
"I'm not going to give in to the critics"?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I'm not going to give in to the critics. I'm going
to stop on my own terms, not on when someone else thinks I should stop.
What I've done here and what I've done in the game is always going to stick,
no matter what happens over the next couple years. But it's not fun losing.
I still believe I have a major in me, you know. I'm going to continue to
do it. But right now, you know, I'm out of this one.
Q. How much of your tennis right now is a fight against age as opposed
to the guy on the other side of the net?
PETE SAMPRAS: It's a little bit of both. Like I said, guys are a little
bit more confident against me. I'm maybe not, you know, quite as sharp as
I used to be. And, you know, you lose a little bit of confidence, and it's
been showing all year. You know, I'm just going to have to stop here and
just kind of reflect a little bit but also not, you know, get too down.
I mean, I still want to continue to play. And there is the US Open in another
month or so. I just hope I can find it pretty soon.
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