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Hoping to court some confidence
By: Bruce Arthur, AP/Reuters

July 29, 2002

Pete Sampras knows he can't get back to where he was five years ago. But moving a little closer to it would be nice

Blinking slightly and wearing flip-flops, Pete Sampras slid comfortably into the leather chair of the media tent, seemingly at ease. He quickly revealed, however, that beneath the still waters of that 30-year-old face, his surety, once immovable, is now struggling in the churn of recent disappointment.

"Right now I'm just trying to get some confidence again," Sampras said yesterday at the National Tennis Centre for the Tennis Masters Canada tournament. "A lot of it's mental. It's more mental than hitting forehands and backhands. It's about confidence."

It was that kind of public confessional for Pistol Pete yesterday, though one he's submitted to before. The man once dismissed, even derided, as more automaton than man, talked of his struggles the past two years, or since he won his record 13th Grand Slam by beating Patrick Rafter at Wimbledon. Since then, the No. 13-ranked Pistol Pete is more rubber sword than loaded gun.

"It's been months since I felt like I was playing well," he says, cognizant of his pedestrian 17-14 record this year.

In an effort to find a solid base from which to climb back up the rankings, he changed coaches for the third time in nine months recently, back to Paul Annacone, who directed him for seven years. After losing at Wimbledon in the second round to cardboard cutout George Bastl, it was Annacone who knew how to prod him back from crushing disappointment, using the chase for further history.

"He knows how to inspire me," Sampras says now. "He reminds me of who I am."

But however well the change works, Sampras realizes that he can't return to pinnacles already conquered.

"I don't think I'll ever get back to that place again, where I was five years ago, mentally," he says. "It's too hard. I was living and breathing tennis and that's what you have to be to be number one, in my mind.

"Staying number one is the hardest thing I've ever had to do. It took its toll."

Indeed, burnout is sometimes cited in the decline of Sampras -- years of constant mental and physical pounding as he went deep into tournament after tournament. Now, recent early-round exits means he's fresher, but that's not necessarily a good thing. He wants to get banged up, because that means he's playing past the first few rounds.

But as he said, Sampras can't be so single-minded anymore. With a wife, actress Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, in tow and a baby on the way at the end of the year, family life is tugging at the sleeve of his racquet arm.

But Bridgette's pregnancy is also cause for both hope, excitement, and some humour regarding his wreck of 2002.

"I did something right this year, I guess," he said yesterday, with that oft-hidden boyish smile, sending laughter through the room.

It is his wife who has also played a role in convincing him not to walk away, saying she wants him to stop on his own terms. With the depth and quality of men's tennis, it will not be easy, even buoyed by slightly suspect optimism.

"I feel like I can get my game going here," he says.

As preparation for the upcoming U.S Open, the Tennis Masters tourney, running today through Sunday, will provide as stiff a test as any major. With 44 of the top 50 players in the world in attendance, including 19 of the top 20, the event is just one notch below the Wimbledons of the world. Sampras's longtime rival Andre Agassi pulled out of the tournament late last night, but Sampras must meet South Africa's Wayne Ferreira in the first round, no easy task. As well, lions like world No. 2 Marat Safin -- no rock of confidence himself, mind -- and world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt are pursuing that dominance Sampras once held so dear. Of the two, Sampras easily tags Hewitt as the man.

"That's the one guy that could potentially dominate for many years."

So the man who has scaled the loftiest heights in tennis history has come back down the mountain. Now for the first time, he is looking up, in more ways than one.

"I've got one chance to salvage a pretty disappointing year," he said. "I'm going to do something I've never had to do-a comeback. It will be the toughest challenge of my career-bigger than 13 Grand Slams. To come back from the lowest point I've ever been at."

 

 

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Pistol Pete hopes to end futility string
by: Norman Da Costa

July. 29, 2002

This is a year that one of the world's all-time tennis greats would rather forget. Pete Sampras was bounced from the courts early in the Grand Slam events in Sydney, Paris and London, but he reckons he has somehow managed to salvage some pride from it.

The 30-year-old Sampras, who faces South Africa's Wayne Ferreira in the first round of the Tennis Masters Canada tournament at York University today, announced that his wife Bridgette Wilson, an actress, will give birth to the couple's first child this fall.

"I did something right this year, I guess,'' joked the only player in tennis history to remain on top of the men's ranking for six consecutive years.

While Pistol Pete is eagerly waiting to become a father, he hinted that retirement remains a distant thought. Instead he is looking forward to getting his career back on track at next month's U.S. Open, the fourth and final major of year.

"My wife has been a very positive influence on me and she has been a rock during this trying year,'' Sampras said at a news conference.

"She has been understanding and given me the stability I need.''

The man who ruled the tennis world said reclaiming his position as the No. 1 player isn't a priority, but he would like to add the Toronto title to his list.

"I am in good shape; mentally I feel fresh and I look forward to the challenge to bounce back. My goal is to win one more Grand Slam title and I know I have the ability to do so, or I would not be carrying on.''

Sampras said he felt he played well in Australia, but the European season "was a bust.''

The American added that being No. 1 took its toll on him and he believes that led to this horrendous season.

"I was consumed by wanting to be No. 1. It took a lot out of me — mentally and emotionally — and one has to realize staying on top is a very difficult thing.

"I've been there before and I don't want to get back,'' he admitted.

"It is far too stressful.''

Sampras, though, has made one key change in his bid to remain among the cream of the tennis-playing crop.

He has re-hired his former coach Paul Annacone, with whom he parted company in 2001. Sampras called Annacone after he was dispatched by unheralded Swiss player George Bastl in Wimbledon's second round. It was the seven-time champion's earliest exit in 11 years in London.

"I called him and asked for help and he agreed even though I know how busy he is,'' said Sampras.

"He knows my game well and what we have done is go back to the basics.

"He knows how to prepare me, as we won 13 majors together. We reflected on the year, on how deflating and discouraging a season it has been.''

But Sampras is determined to put it all behind him.

"I have to move on. I just cannot sit here and sulk.''

That spells bad news for his opponents here and at Flushing Meadow next month.

 

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