Tennis great Pete Sampras evaluates his successors at the top of the men’s game and tells Open Court why he’s happy to stay at home. Source: CNN
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Pete Interview
Pete Sampras Interview at the Australian Open
Pete Sampras has arrived in Melbourne and will be presenting the trophy to the winner in Sunday’s final. During the presscon, he was asked on the GOAT, tennis rivalries and if he is interested in coaching other players.
Transcript of the interview is also available below:
Continue reading “Pete Sampras Interview at the Australian Open”Sampras Interview
Source: Tennis.com by Peter Bodo
I spoke with Pete Sampras yesterday, and he says “Hi’ to all his fans at TennisWorld. Time out for a shameless plug: the book we wrote together, A Champion’s Mind, has been on the New York Times best seller list (at no. 20, now 21) since shortly after it was published. We talked mostly about the Wimbledon final, and his pal and hitting buddy, Roger Federer
So what did you think?
I thought it was great, maybe the best match I’ve seen in many, many years. Two all-time greats, at their prime, playing great on the best court on earth. if you wrote a script it couldn’t have been any better – Roger coming back from two sets to love, Nadal showing his heart. . . I thought it was great tennis and great drama.
I think Roger handled himself with a lot of class. What I really liked is that the match goes to show that when you come right down to it, great moments aren’t about controversy, and they aren’t about personality. They’re about two great players who manage to reach beyond the usual audience for the game – that’s especially big in this country. It was impressive that two guys who aren’t American could capture the American sports fans that way. It was one of those moments in all sports that we’ll never forget.
Did you talk to Roger, Pete?
It wasn’t the right time, I didn’t think. But I did send him a text, and told him, “Bad luck, too bad there had to be a loser in that one.” I said he should take pride in the way he and Rafa are taking the sport way beyond the usual audience. He should feel great about that. He texted me back to say thanks.
I know it was disappointing for him, I’m sure hes still playing that match in his mind. But in years to come, he’ll look back on this match and appreciate the moment. No question in my mind about that.
So do you think Roger needs to make any changes at this stage in his career, given Nadal and Djokovic’s emergence?
I heard quite a few people saying he should come in more, serve and volley more. But Roger is just so much better than anyone except Rafa from the backcourt that you wonder if that would be a smart move. Sure he could attack a little more, but I still feel that if you put Rog and Rafa on that Centre Court 10 times, I think Roger wins 7 of them. He was right there with Rafa, neck-and-neck, and that’s the opposite of how it is on clay. Rafa’s already a legend on clay, but I’m sure Roger thinks he’s still the better player on grass, and I believe that’s true. But Rafa showed that it now comes down to form of the day, and on Sunday Roger just came up a little short.
Do you think Roger should have a full time coach, for either technical or emotional reasons?
No, I don’t think he necessarily should. Everybody is different, and Roger’s won plenty of Slams on his own. Maybe that’s more his comfort zone. On the other hand, a coach can see things that a player can’t, and he can emphasize things and come up with a plan when a player might just want to go out and play his game. I always found it valuable when Paul (Annacone, Sampras’s former coach) would say something like, “I think you should serve big to his backhand at the start, just to plant a bug in his mind and open up the court, then try to do most of your damage on the forehand side.”
That kind of simple advice was always welcome to me, even if at the last minute I didn’t always carry it out. A coach can help, what, 2 per cent, for a player of Roger’s caliber? But then again – this match came down to that small a difference between the guys. So who really knows.
What I think is important, though, is to keep a perspective on this and not over-analyze the match. Roger played well enough to win, only he didn’t. On another day, he does. Contrary to what a lot of people are saying, I think Roger is having a good year, it’s just that he’s set such a high bar for himself. But can anybody say he’s fallen off the pace, or that his game has holes in it? No way. He’s right there, ready
to strike, and he will – given the opportunity.
Do you still expect Roger to break your Grand Slam singles title record (14 titles)?
Oh, absolutely. It’s inevitable. He’ll be in contention for all the majors, and he’ll win a few more Wimbledons and U.S. Opens before he’s done – no doubt in my mind.
Do you plan to practice or play any exos with him, like you did last fall?
We have nothing in the works. We talked about trying to put something together for London, an exhibition or something, but we couldn’t make it work, schedules-wise. It would be nice to do it again, but right now Roger has other fish to fry.
What do you think about the Olympics
Pete Sampras Guests On The Tonight Show With Jay Leno Aired: September 24, 2002
Jay: Please welcome a class act, Pete Sampras!
Pete comes in and they shake hands.
Jay: Congratulations!
Pete: Thank you, thank you.
Jay: How many grand slams have you won, is it 14?
Pete: 14
Jay: 14 so what’s the biggest
Pete: Uh I think this one was the biggest, this year’s been a little bit disappointing and to get through some tough moments after Wimbledon was such a low point, just got through it and worked hard, I just believed I could do it and I did it.
Jay: So what was the lowest point, you say the low point, what would, when was the day you went, you could look back and go that was the day, when was it?
Pete: Well, I think it was after Wimbledon. I just got home and I was really disappointed, the year’s been crappy till that point and it just, it just was awful, lots of misery and I just believed that I could still do it. You know everyone’s been writing me off for so long and I just had a lot of support from my family, my wife.
Jay: You say that now when I sit back and see a guy like you won all these championships, when you say people would write me off, I kind of smile because you are one of the greatest tennis players of all time, if not the greatest, and I know and at what point (people begin to applaud and Pete looks at audience and smiles) but so when you say oh their writing me off, where does that come from, where do you feel that from?
Pete: I wasn’t quite as dominate, you know I was number 1 for so long then I started to slip a little bit, uh Wimbledon was a huge shock to everyone and I think that’s when it started happening. I just kind of I started believing it a little bit, you know I’m getting old 30-31 and if it’s time for me to stop and I had moments when I was thinking about moving on but I was passionate about the game, still loved to play and still felt I had one more major in me. And here I am having done it! Applause.
Jay: Oh it’s a great story, the part that’s fascinating for people I mean I always liked you because you are not a loud guy, you don’t complain, you don’t whine, you just do it and I just wonder what is it in you that says okay this is the turnaround, yesterday was the low point. I mean does the strength come from somewhere?
Pete: Well from myself, my family, my wife. My wife has to live with me every day and it’s not easy when you are not doing well. But, she, she was for me, she really kept me together and it was up to me as far as going out and working hard, playing better.
ay: Well I read some things and I thought was really unfair and nasty, well once he got married well that’s it, ruined, his game and this kind of nonsense. How did you deal with that?
Pete: Ummm, it was a bunch of crap, really, I mean it really was. Being married is the best thing that ever happened to me, I met the right woman, and I’ve done a lot in the game and so consumed with the game for so long, it was time for me to get married and have a family and that’s what we’re doing, and uh this last victory was so huge for me it really was it was such a come back for me and it felt great.
Jay: Well it was great, was great. But look we’ll take a little break and talk to Pete more after this.
(commercial break)
Jay: We’re back with US Open Champion Pete Sampras. Tell me about the crowd when you were there. How important is their support? Could you feel it?
Pete: It was huge, especially New York and being an American in New York City at a time like this, it was huge. Playing Andre in the finals they were really into it and it was fun to play. But a lot of support always helps.
Jay: Now how fast is your serve, I heard different.
Pete: Uhhh well the top speed is probably 135
Jay: A 135 gee see that’s amazing. Now like those machines that you practice with that shoot the balls, do they shoot them that fast?
Pete: No I don’t practice with machines
Jay: Well, no but I mean (laughter)
Pete: I practice with people
Jay: Well I know you have those things, cause it’s hard to imagine how fast 135 is. I mean most people haven’t got well here take a look we have some tapes, here’s some serves coming down. (They show tape of Pete serving to Andre one after another.) It has to take some kind of toll. You can hardly see it.
Applause
Jay: [says something I cannot hear for the applause.]
Jay: Do you think you could return your own serve?
Pete: Tsk, well yeah, I mean I’ve played guys that served huge in the 131, 135 down the line. I think I could, it’s tough, but I’m still pretty good I think.
Jay: Haha well yeah you’re very good. Now your first US Open was what year?
Pete: 1990
Jay: 1990, you did Johnny that year
Pete: Yeah that was tough
Jay: What? (inaudible) we need to do John same time
Pete: everything, my whole life changed and coming on and doing Johnny Carson, I was a little bit nervous.
Jay: Well Johnny is very gracious, we call him and say hey listen we have somebody on, could I borrow the tape, and he always let us borrow it so this is you and I thought you’d, you don’t look that much different, I thought well this will be great he’ll look like Howdy Doody (a marionette on tv ages ago) or something Pete says something but can’t get it. But actually you look pretty much the same. Here take a look you were 19 years old. They run the tape
Johnny C: How important is it for you to be number 1?
Pete: Right now it’s not very important. Kinda let this sink
Johnny C: kinda let this sink in??
Pete:Yeah and try to keep on enjoying it which I think is important. And just to keep enjoying and not get too cocky and arrogant. You know especially the….
Johnny C: that’s a good idea just to enjoy the moment
Pete: I want to remain the same kid I’ve always been.
Back to Jay: You gonna talk now, gonna handle it? Applause.And your posture hasn’t improved an inch!
Pete: Sorry, but these seats are a little uncomfortable.
Jay: Well let me, now you kept your promise and you haven’t become cocky. You think a lot of the players are too cocky?
Pete:No, there’s some on the ladies tour. (Audience jeers and Pete becomes embarrassed flushed.) I mean the men’s tour the guys are pretty cool, but there are some pretty confident young girls out there.
Jay:You got Andy, Andy Roddick he seems, is he cocky?
Pete: No he is very gracious, good great player, he’s gotta good game, he’s pretty humble, he’ll be fine.
Jay: Which girls are cocky?
Pete: Ohhhhh Jay, you tell me (he’s laughing, blushing)
Jay: your honor, he opened this line of questioning, I did not bring it up your honor.
Pete: I don’t want to mention any names but there’s you know
Jay: Ehhh does it begin with a V (Laughter) EE haha
Pete: Enough said
Jay: there’s nothing wrong with being cocky it’s alright.
Pete: Well you know
Jay: Hey you’re sweating would you like one (hands him Kleenex)
Pete: I think it’s you (laughter in audience)
commercial break)
Jay: So what is your future in tennis, what are you gonna, you’re not going to retire (like a plea)
Pete: I don’t know I been going back and forth, I’d like to still play, it’s fun again, but the other part is that it was a great win so I, I’m still thinking about it. I’m going to see where I at in about a month.
Jay: One last quick question, I know you are Greek. Did you have a big fat Greek Wedding when you got married?
Pete: Uhhh we didn’t have a big fat Greek wedding. But I have a lot of fat Greek friends (Laughter) but uh no it was a …
Jay: I ‘m gonna let you hang yourself, go
Pete: (laughs) I know
Jay: Lotta guys named Nick…
Pete: Nick, George, Gus a lot of Gus
Jay: Well God Bless you, you’re a true Champion and just a real decent guy. God Bless your (inaudible audience clapping) Say hello to Bridgette and Good Luck with the baby.be right back with Maggie. Pete Sampras.
Alrighty, my next guest is a very talented young actress. Maggie Gilenau (Probably spelled last name wrong.) Say hi to Pete.
Postscript
Now this gal who is in the movie The Secretary is asked about the movie and she says it’s about S&M and that the producer gave her a porn film so she could know more about it. The camera goes to Pete and he does a quick raise of the eyebrows with a little grin on his face.I tried to capture that for about a half hour.could not do it.
Then this gal tells about the woman in the movie having mouse traps on her nipples.the camera once again goes to Pete.he laughs and looks at this girl like is ‘she for real?’
Okay. well this is as accurate as I can get it. The conversation was very fast. There was a lot of laughter from the audience, Jay and Pete.I think he had a good time.
Special thanks to Joy Parker for the transcript of interview and video captures and to Sonja Stransky for the photo collages.
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