February 19, 2008
Sampras can still put 'em away
SAMPRAS THRILLS THE S.J. FANS IN EXHIBITION WIN
By Darren Sabedra
The old man can still play a little.
Pete Sampras showed some rust at the start Monday. But once he got it going, it was just like old times. "Show some mercy," Tommy Haas pleaded at one point during his 6-4, 6-2 exhibition loss to the all-time great on the first night of the SAP Open at HP Pavilion.
Sampras, 36, gave the largest opening-night crowd in SAP Open history --- 8,812 --- a thrill, displaying the serve-and-volley brilliance that lifted him to a record 14 Grand Slam titles.
"One more time," one fan screamed after Sampras charged the net for a leaping overhead winner.
But there won't be one more time for Sampras on the ATP Tour. Although the fans cheered when he was asked about a comeback during an on-court interview, Sampras said it is just not going to happen.
He did tease the crowd momentarily, saying, "I'll tell you what I'll do: For the fans, I'll come back." But when the applause died down, Sampras added, "For me, I'm happy being retired. It's a lot of work to come out of retirement."
Sampras is in the midst of an exhibition run. In November, he won the third of a three-match series against world No. 1 Roger Federer. Sampras is scheduled to play Federer again March 10 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Monday, Sampras returned to a city where he won titles in 1996 and '97.
"I felt pretty good out there," he said. "I didn't know what to expect. I play so sporadically. I just kind of toss it up and see what happens from there."
"It took me a little time to find my bearings and get me a rhythm out there --- balls were flying. But I picked up some pretty good volleys and returned OK. And Tommy has more important things to worry about this week than playing me."
Haas, the No. 26-ranked player in the world, is in the main draw this week. He had lost five of eight tour matches against Sampras, the last in four sets in the round of 16 at the 2002 U.S. Open. Sampras went on to beat Andre Agassi in the final of that tournament, then walked into retirement.
Haas said only Sampras can decide whether he should come back.
"There are so many things that have to be right in order for him to come back," Haas said. "If he would have, I think it should have been a couple of years ago. I think the way he stopped is as good as it gets, winning his 14th major at the U.S. Open against one of his longtime rivals, Andre Agassi. How much better does it get?"
Sampras seems perfectly content to play matches like this one Monday. Wearing gray shorts and a white and black shirt, he entered the court to a standing ovation and kept the crowd entertained through the match that lasted under an hour.
Once he settled in, Sampras seemed to loosen up. He joked with the ball kids and line judges. When he won the first set, he pounded the racket against his head and pumped his right fist.
He also had luck on his side. One of his forehands hit the top of the net, bounced up, hit the top of the net again and then dropped in for a winner.
"It was a great crowd, a nice atmosphere," Sampras said. "It was a fun night."
The day session was highlighted by Guillermo Garcia-Lopez's upset of No. 6 seed Jurgen Melzer. The Spaniard won the marathon match 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (8-6).
Fourth-seeded Radek Stepanek blasted 12 aces in his 7-6 (7-2), 6-1 victory over Paul Capdeville.
Off the court, tournament director Bill Rapp had to scramble to replace the fifth, sixth and seventh players to withdraw from the event --- Vincent Spadea (foot), Hyung-Taik Lee (back) and Michael Russell (shoulder).
Chris Guccione will take Spadea's spot for Wednesday's match against top seed Andy Roddick; Wayne Odesnik replaced Lee and beat Donald Young 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 late Monday; and Jesse Witten, not Russell, will face Robby Ginepri today.