June 19, 2008
Sampras Draws Muster on BlackRock Debut in Sao Paulo
Pete Sampras will face fellow former World No.1 Thomas Muster in the round-robin stages of his debut event on the BlackRock Tour of Champions in Sao Paulo, Brazil this week.
The American will face Muster on Saturday, with earlier clashes against home-favourite Fernando Meligeni and Marc-Kevin Goellner in Group Thomaz Koch.
The event marks the first trip Sampras has ever made to South America, but so far, he likes what he sees.
"I have only been here only for a day, but as far as I can see, Sao Paulo is a beautiful big city," said Sampras.
"I am looking forward to the event and to the competition. Hopefully we will have a full house. I have heard the crowd here is very enthusiastic. I will probably be a little rusty in the first couple of matches, because I injured my back some weeks ago, but I can see myself as one of the favorites."
In Group Carlos Kirmayr, another former World No.1, Marcelo Rios, will take on Russia's Andei Cherkasov, Brazilian Jaime Oncins and Peru's Jaime Yzaga.
SAMPRAS MAKES FEDERER REVELATION ON EVE OF BLACKROCK DEBUT
As he prepared to make his debut on the BlackRock Tour of Champions in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Thursday, Pete Sampras revealed that he would like to be present when Roger Federer finally breaks his record of 14 career Grand Slam titles.
In an exclusive video interview on BlackRockTourOfChampions.com, Sampras promised Federer that he would be there if and when the moment comes.
"There is a burning desire in Roger to break my record, and when he does it I would like to be there," said Sampras.
"I said him to just make sure it's in New York or London! Australia is a long way to go! If it worked out like that, I would fly there. I would just let him enjoy it as it's his moment but (I would want to be there) just to respect the record and what he was able to do and to just say 'congratulations'." To see the video interview, click here.
Sampras has not returned to Wimbledon since he last played there in 2002. While he would go anywhere that Federer breaks his record of 14 Grand Slam titles, his first choice would be to see the Swiss win his 15th major tournament at Wimbledon next year.
"I think if I were to step back on that court at Wimbledon it would bring up a lot of emotion, just because of what the place meant to me and how big it was to the sport of tennis. It was such an important place to me as an athlete, it was our Superbowl. It had such a big effect on me as a kid and seeing Borg and McEnroe play and seeing Becker win there at 17 and 18, it had a huge effect on me. Now, at 36 years old, to go back there with my kids one day would be very emotional. As much as I'm a full-blooded American and I love the US Open, there's just a certain romance that I've always had with Wimbledon. I didn't always express it with words but I think internally I just felt a great connection with the place, the court and the arena. I felt like that was what tennis was all about for me and I look forward to going back and enjoying that experience."
And, he is not concerned about losing the record that he worked so hard to post.
"I jokingly tell Roger that he could have let me enjoy the record for a few more years!" said Sampras.
"But, I am at peace with it because I did everything that I could in my generation. I have so much respect for Roger as a player and as a person. He's a great guy. Getting to know him a little bit, we hung out quite a bit in Asia and travelled together, and we got along really well. We both have a dry sense of humour and there's a side to Roger that I didn't really know. All I knew was that he was a really nice person but there's an out-going side that people don't really see. He's funny, he's articulate, he likes to tell stories. I have respect not just for his game but for the way he carries himself on and off the court. He's a great role model for kids all around the world. He's great with sponsors, the media, the kids, the tournaments. When you're the best player in the world there's a lot asked of you and I think I tended to keep everyone at a distance whereas I think he's a little more open about it and a little more embracing. Just the fact that we get along great and I respect him is the reason I'd want to be there to see him break the record."
He also dismissed those that have suggested that Federer is on the decline.
"He's created this monster of winning so many tournaments and so many majors and doing it with ease,"said Sampras.
"As great as Roger is he's going to have his losses and his bad days, it's just human nature to go through some lulls. The media need a story and something to grab onto, like he's lost his edge. He hasn't lost his edge. If he goes through the next few months and he's losing a lot and he doesn't contend for tournaments then maybe but I don't see that happening. I think when push comes to shove in the majors, he's still the guy that's most likely to win them. He's lost a couple and if anything that'll do him some good, it'll get him going and fired up. He'll be just fine."
June 20, 2008
Sampras Makes Winning Blackrock Debut
Pete Sampras needed all of his famed power, skill and experience to scrape past home favourite Fernando Meligeni and make a winning start to his BlackRock Tour of Champions career in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Thursday.
Sampras and Meligeni came into the match with a career head-to-head of 1-1, and it was immediately clear that the American would have his work cut out in front of a partisan, capacity crowd at the WTC Golden Hall.
The American broke Meligeni in the first game before holding serve to take the set 6-3, but Meligeni hit back to break the former Word No.1 at 2-2 in the second. With an ace, Meligeni closed out the second set 6-4. In the Champions' Tie-break Sampras started strongly and quickly took a 7-3 lead, closing out the match 6-3, 4-6, 10-6 (Champions' Tie-break).
"I was told that people are very passionate about sports here and that there are many tennis fans in Sao Paulo," said Sampras.
"It was pleasure to play here. They had never had the chance to see me play live before, so I'm just happy to be here. The court is fast so it was hard to adjust with only one match, but I'm sure I will be better tomorrow."
For Meligeni, it was a special experience to play the 14-time Grand Slam champion in front of the Brazilian's own fans.
"It is an honour to play Pete Sampras in Brazil," he said.
"The guy is living legend, probably the best tennis player ever seen. It was a lot of fun to play in front of my home crowd once again. I could off the energy of the crowd and I think I was able to put up a good show for the fans. It is quite tough to play a guy like Pete on hard courts. His shots come fast and heavy and you don't have much time to react. His serve is one of the best I have ever had to return and his ball placement is just incredible. I can't say enough good things about his game."
Chilean Marcelo Rios also opened his campaign at the BlackRock Tour of Champions even in Sao Paulo with a win. The former World No.1 showed all of his talent to dismiss Russia's Andrei Cherkasov 6-3, 6-2 in 61 minutes. Rios, who is currently No.3 in the 2008 South African Airways Tour of Champions Rankings, could gain the lead if he wins the title in Sao Paulo.
"I think that I played well for my first match here but there is still some room for improvement. Tomorrow's match against Jaime (Oncins) will be good fun. I'm looking forward to the opportunity of playing a Brazilian in Sao Paulo," said Rios.
Earlier, local favourite Oncins defeated Peruvian Jaime Yzaga 6-4, 6-4, while Marc-Kevin Goellner overcame Thomas Muster 6-2, 6-4.
Latest Group Standings
Group Thomaz Koch
Marc Goellner 1-0 (2-0)
Pete Sampras 1-0 (2-1)
Fernando Meligeni 0-1 (1-2)
Thomas Muster 0-1 (0-2)
Group Carlos Kirmayr
Jaime Oncins 1-0 (2-0)
Marcelo Rios 1-0 (2-0)
Jaime Yzaga 0-1 (0-2)
Andrei Cherkasov 0-1 (0-2)
ORDER OF PLAY, FRIDAY 20TH JUNE, 2008
17h00
Jaime Yzaga vs. Andrei Cherkasov
18h30
Fernando Meligeni vs. Thomas Muster
20h00
Marcelo Rios vs. Jaime Oncins
21h30
Pete Sampras vs. Marc Goellner
June 21, 2008
Muster Separates Sampras From Rios Final
A former World No.1 stands in the way of a former World No.1 reaching the final where another former World No.1 will be waiting --- it is what the BlackRock Tour of Champions is all about.
Pete Sampras and Thomas Muster both topped the ATP rankings in the 1990's, and they will face each other in the final round-robin match at the BlackRock Tour of Champions event in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Saturday. If Sampras wins, a mouth-watering final clash with Marcelo Rios (pictured) surely awaits.
Boths Sampras and Rios have won their two group matches to-date, with Sampras serving and volleying his way past Marc-Kevin Goellner for a 6-3, 6-4 victory on Friday, and Rios crushing Jaime Oncins 6-2, 6-1.
"I was happy with my level of play today," said Sampras.
"I definitely felt a bit more comfortable out there, serving and volleying a bit more than yesterday. I also feel more adapted to the court. I have a tough match tomorrow against Muster that I will be looking to win to reach the final on Sunday."
The American won nine of his eleven meetings against Muster during their careers, and will head into their round-robin clash as the favourite. Muster has been struggling this week. He lost 6-3, 6-3 to Brazil's Fernando Meligeni on Friday, and said:
"I was not hitting the ball well. I think it has to do with the altitude of Sao Paulo. But Fernando played a great match and deserved to win."
Rios, meanwhile, was in irresistable form, and now needs to defeat Jaime Yzaga to reach the final.
"I'm getting used to the court and I believe I played better than yesterday. I just hope I can play like this tomorrow and advance to the final," he said.
Latest Group Standings
Group Thomaz Koch
Pete Sampras 2-0 (4-1)
Marc Goellner 1-1 (2-2)
Fernando Meligeni 1-1 (3-2)
Thomas Muster 0-2 (0-4)
Group Carlos Kirmayr
Marcelo Rios 2-0 (4-0)
Jaime Oncins 1-1 (2-2)
Andrei Cherkasov 1-1 (2-2)
Jaime Yzaga 0-2 (0-4)
ORDER OF PLAY, SATURDAY 21ST JUNE, 2008
17h00
Andrei Cherkasov vs. Jaime Oncins
18h30
Fernando Meligeni vs. Marc Goellner
20h00
Jaime Yzaga vs. Marcelo Rios
21h30
Pete Sampras vs. Thomas Muster
June 22, 2008
Sampras to Face Rios in Dream Final
The BlackRock Tour of Champions will stage the first ever meeting in a final between Pete Sampras and Marcelo Rios when they clash in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Sunday.
Rios battled past Peru's Jaime Yzaga 6-0, 7-5 on Saturday, while Sampras dismissed Thomas Muster 6-3, 6-2. It means the pair completed the round-robin stages of the event unbeaten, and something will have to give in the final of the Nossa Caixa Grand Champions Brazil.
As well as the perfect conclusion to the event itself, it will also help to answer a few questions about what would have happened if they had met more often during their careers.
When Rios reached the summit of tennis in 1998, the prospect of a thrilling rivalry with Sampras had beckoned.
Rios, the most uniquely talented left-hander since John McEnroe, had reached No.1 in the rankings during the first half of that year, winning titles in Indian Wells, Miami and Rome. Sampras dug deep to win his fifth of seven Wimbledon titles and ultimately finish the year as the World No.1 for a record sixth successive year. Throughout those compelling 12 months, they did not meet once. In fact, despite their careers overlapping for eight years, they played each other only twice, with Sampras winning on both occasions --- on clay at Roland Garros in 1994 (Rios' debut year on the circuit) and indoors in Stuttgart in 2001.
At 32 and 36 respectively, Rios and Sampras are still in excellent physical shape, and both have beaten current ATP players in exhibition matches this year.
"It should be a good final," confirmed Sampras.
"Rios is young, talented and in very good shape. He is serving well too. He could probably still be playing on the (ATP) tour."
Rios was equally excited by the prospect of Sunday's clash.
"To play Sampras in the final here will be incredible. We are happy he decided to play some events on the BlackRock Tour of Champions," he said.
Elsewhere, Jaime Oncins defeated Andrei Cherkasov 6-7(2), 6-4, 10-7 (Champions' Tie-break) in one hour and 50 minutes to book a spot in Sunday's 3rd/4th place match against Fernando Meligeni. Meligeni enjoyed a 7-6(10), 4-6, 10-7 (Champions' tie-break) victory over Marc-Kevin Goellner.
Final Group Standings
Group Thomaz Koch
Pete Sampras 3-0 (6-1)
Fernando Meligeni 2-1 (5-3)
Marc Goellner 1-2 (3-4)
Thomas Muster 0-3 (0-6)
Group Carlos Kirmayr
Marcelo Rios 3-0 (6-0)
Jaime Oncins 2-1 (4-3)
Andrei Cherkasov 1-2 (3-4)
Jaime Yzaga 0-3 (0-6)
ORDER OF PLAY, SUNDAY 22 JUNE, 2008
14h30
3rd/4th place --- Fernando Meligeni vs. Jaime Oncins
16h00
Final --- Pete Sampras vs. Marcelo Rios
June 23, 2008
Sampras Hammers Rios to Claim First BlackRock Title
Pete Sampras hammered Marcelo Rios 6-2, 7-6(5) in the Sao Paulo final to win his first title on the BlackRock Tour of Champions.
The American was giving away four years to Rios, but his serve would not have looked out of place at Wimbledon next week as he rushed through the opening set with breaks in the fifth and seventh games. In the second set, neither player could convert break-point chances and the set went to a tie-break which Sampras won to finish the match.
"I'm very happy to finish the week with the title," said Sampras, who hit 16 aces in the match. "I enjoyed playing here in front of this crowd in Brazil."
Rios was disappointed, but paid tribute to Sampras.
"Pete is playing very good tennis and it was hard to beat him as his serve is so big. I hope to have other chances to play him. On this surface it is obvious that he has a big advantage but in the future I hope to have a second shot at him."
In the 3rd/4th place match, Brazilian Jaime Oncins battled past countryman Fernando Meligeni 6-2, 6-7(6), 10-7 in one hour and 30 minutes.
The circuit now moves on to Istanbul, Turkey next month. It will be the first time that the BlackRock Tour of Champions has ever visited Turkey.
RESULTS, SUNDAY 22nd JUNE, 2008
Final --- Pete Sampras d. Marcelo Rios 6-2, 7-6(5)
3rd/4th place --- Jaime Oncins d. Fernando Meligeni 6-2, 6-7(6), 10-7 (Champions' Tie-break)