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Sampras says he will assess future at the end of 2003

August 20, 2002

The dark circles that sometimes swell beneath Pete Sampras' eyes give him the appearance of an interrogation suspect who has spent far too much time beneath the bright, white spotlight answering the same question from an assortment of inquisitors.

During his two-year title drought since the former No. captured his record-breaking 13th Grand Slam crown at the 2000 Wimbledon, Sampras has been the subject of scrutiny from media and fans constantly questioning if his retirement is imminent. It seems virtually everyone involved in tennis at any level — from former No. 1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov to Sampras' former Davis Cup captain John McEnroe to Sampras supporters and detractors on Internet bulletin boards around the world — have strong opinions on whether Sampras should hang it up or continue his quest for another title.

In an interview at the TD Waterhouse Cup, Sampras, who will play Paul-Henri Mathieu in tonight's second-round match on Stadium Court, said he will assess the future of his career at the conclusion of the 2003 season.

"At the end of next year, I'll see where it's all at and then make a decision," Sampras said. "That doesn't mean I'm going to stop or continue. I deserve to make my own decision as to when I leave the sport."

Though he is only a year removed from an impressive run to the U.S. Open final in which Sampras swept through three former U.S. Open champions Patrick Rafter, Andre Agassi and Marat Safin in succession before running out of gas in a humbling 7-6 (7-4), 6-1, 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Lleyton Hewitt, Sampras is struggling in the midst of one of his worst slumps.

The seven-time Wimbledon winner has spent his career strengthened by the grass-court season the way Popeye is strengthened by spinach, but this year Sampras found no solace on the natural surface. He fell to Nicolas Kiefer in a Wimbledon warm-up tournament and met an early Wimbledon demise on Court 2 "the Graveyard of Champions" in a shocking five-set setback to journeyman George Bastl, who entered that encounter with one career Wimbledon win to his credit.

Since his upset loss at Wimbledon, Sampras has shown signs of solid play, but has registered an unspectacular 3-2 record during the U.S. hard court summer season. While he Sampras strives to solidify his place in tennis history in the final stages of a brilliant career, he makes it clear it is the uncertain future and not his prominent past that is his focus.

"It was a low point after Wimbledon, but at some point you have to put it all behind you," Sampras said. "You've got to start fresh and I'm looking forward to the next few weeks. My body is in good shape. The difference today is that there are so many good players, that if I don't go out and play well, I won't win the match. In the past, I was able to win even when I wasn't playing my best."

Sampras has spent much of his career as a stoic champion, but his struggles have placed him under the microscope where his every move has been analyzed in detail and are often interpreted as signs of desperation — from his four different coaching changes in the last year to his reading a person note from his wife during a Wimbledon changeover to his slightest questioning of line calls at the Tennis Masters Series-Canada tournament. The man who has built a high profile as a private champion still retains a tremendous sense of pride on the court and while he readily admits his days of dominance are over, Sampras still believes he is capable of claiming another U.S. Open crown next month.

"The day's of dominating and being No. 1 are over. I have to get my confidence back and you need to win matches for that to happen," Sampras said. "My goal is to win another major and I believe I can in this year's U.S. Open, even though I haven't shown much this year."

 

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Pete admits end is near

August 20, 2002

Pete Sampras gave his strongest indication yet that he would retire after next year if his game is still in the dumpster. Before debuting tonight in the U.S. Open tuneup, The TD Waterhouse Cup on Long Island, Sampras conceded men's tennis is too deep for him to ever get back to No. 1 again and he's only trudging on because he wants to eke out one more major before he's through.

"I'm just going to keep on going," said Sampras, who faces Paul Henri Mathieu at 7 p.m. "I'll play the rest of this year and play a full schedule next year. And after next year, I'll see where I'm at. I'll see how I'm playing, see how I'm doing.

"I'm going to stop on my own terms because I deserve that," said Sampras, who hasn't won a tournament - let alone a Slam - since capturing Wimbledon two years ago. "When my heart and mind is not into the game and I feel I can't win a major, that will tell me it's time. That day isn't quite here. I still feel I have the heart and game."

Sampras is willing to try anything. Noting technology keeps producing bigger and more thunderous rackets, Sampras revealed, after the U.S. Open, he will shelve the racket he's used for a decade, the Wilson Pro Staff.

"I'm going to play with a bigger racket," Sampras said. "The racket I'm playing with is like a blade in golf. I think I need a Big Bertha. It seems like I'm using the smallest racket on the tour."

Nobody but Sampras, 31, believes he can win his 14th Slam at the Open, which begins Monday. Sampras has accumulated a record 13 but his hideous second-round defeat at his favorite venue, Wimbledon, in July is evidence he no longer can win again.

"Week in, week out, my days of dominating is not really going to happen," Sampras said. "Those days are over. I've already done that in my tennis. What I'm trying to do over the next couple of years is try to win a major. I feel I've got the game, got the experience, the heart and mind to still want to do it."

 

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