September 27, 2009
Sampras sloshes to a spot in final
By Rick Bonnell
Cash can't gain a foothold out front in conditions that keep players on their toes.
Pete Sampras and Pat Cash took one for the show Saturday, skating their way through a rain-delayed and rain-interrupted semifinal.
Nearly eight hours after they were scheduled to play, Sampras prevailed 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the final of the Breezeplay Championships men's senior tennis tournament at the Palisades.
Sampras' opponent is to be determined. Jim Courier and Todd Martin will play at 10a.m. today for the right to face Sampras in a late-afternoon championship match.
Sampras and Cash played most of their match with mist or rain falling on the hard court. That made conditions dangerous enough that both players were reluctant to run wide or suddenly change direction to return shots.
"As bad as you could possibly expect" and still play, Sampras said in a matter-of-fact tone. "But we were both very eager to get the match in. They were tricky conditions, even at the start" when the court was blown and wiped dry.
Cash said that while conditions were far from ideal, it was more important to get in at least one match for the several hundred fans who waited through hours of drizzle.
"It's partially about playing good tennis, but it's partially doing what you should for the crowd," Cash said. "It's not like we were on center court at Wimbledon" waiting out ideal weather.
The match turned during the second set, after Cash broke Sampras' serve to take a 3-2 lead. Sampras broke back when Cash double-faulted, then made two unforced errors on half-volleys, normally an easy shot for a net-rusher of Cash's skill.
"I was just a fraction off, but that's enough," Cash said. "Even in wet conditions, I shouldn't miss that shot."
Fans holding tickets for what should have been Saturday's evening session can use those tickets for today's semifinal. On a space-available basis, those fans can stay for the third-place and final matches, which are scheduled to start at 2 p.m.