28 October 2011
Chengdu: Sampras rediscovers form against Ferreira
Marat Safin and Pete Sampras will clash for the first time on the ATP Champions Tour on Saturday in Chengdu, China after experiencing contrasting fortunes on Friday.
Safin lost a marathon match against the in-form Younes El Aynaoui who backed up his win over Sampras on Thursday with a 4-6, 7-5, 11-9 triumph over the Russian.
Sampras rediscovered his form against Wayne Ferreira, prevailing 6-3, 6-2.
As soon as those matches were complete, Safin and Sampras were already looking forward to their clash on Saturday, which is a repeat of their US Open final in 2000 which gave Safin his first Grand Slam title.
"Marat has as much talent as anyone in the world has ever had it's just that mentally he's a bit fragile and he's had a few ups and downs," said Sampras.
"He's had a great career. I think with his game he could have achieved even more but that particular match in New York in 2000 was just a clinic. Plain and simple. I remember just walking on the court and walking off. He really played fantastic. He surprised me completely and basically overpowered me. he returned great, he moved well and just played a phenomenal match. I was powerless, nothing I could do. I remember having a tough couple of weeks coming into the match, was a little bit tired but, that being said, I don't think it would have mattered. He just played so good that day. I'm 40, he's 31, so it's undoubtedly a tough match for me but I'll really do my best and try to get into the net and keep the points short."
Safin is equally excited.
"Of course I am looking forward to the match against Pete tomorrow," he said. "I think we'll both be pumped up and I'll try to beat him. When I look at him (Sampras) I still see the same guy I saw on the TV when I was growing up. For me I treat him with a lot of respect and to play on the court with him is a pleasure and a challenge."
As for El Aynaoui, his consecutive wins over Sampras and Safin have made for a dream-week so far. He will play his final round-robin match against Ferreira on Saturday.
Elsewhere, in Group B, Carlos Moya dismissed Paradorn Srichaphan 6-2, 6-2, while Thomas Enqvist edged out Mark Philippoussis 6-7(4), 7-6(6), 10-6 (Champions' Tie-Break). Moya and Enqvist will clash on Saturday for a place in Sunday's final.
Matches are played over the best of three sets, with a Champions' Tie-break (first to 10 points with a clear advantage of two) to decide the winner. After all round-robin matches are complete, the top two players in each group will meet in Sunday's final.
After Chengdu, the ATP Champions Tour will move on to Santiago, Chile for the city's first ever ATP Champions Tour event, The Royal Guard Champions (November 10-13) and after that the Tour will arrive in London for the year-end AEGON Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall (Nov 30 - Dec 4).
RESULTS --- Friday 28th October
Carlos Moya d. Paradorn Srichaphan 6-2, 6-2
Thomas Enqvist d. Mark Philippoussis 6-7(4), 7-6(6), 10-6 (Champions Tie Break)
Pete Sampras d. Wayne Ferreira 6-3, 6-2
Younes El Aynaoui d. Marat Safin 4-6, 7-5, 11-9 (Champions' Tie Break)
SCHEDULE
Saturday 29th October --- starting at 15:30
Wayne Ferreira vs. Younes El Aynaoui
Marat Safin vs. Pete Sampras
Thomas Enqvist vs. Carlos Moya
Paradorn Srichaphan vs. Mark Philippoussis