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American Morning

Sampras Serves History at U.S. Open

Aired September 09, 2002 - 07:51   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Pete Sampras won his fifth U.S. Open title yesterday, beating another -- what is considered, I guess -- an old guy in the world of tennis, Andre Agassi. Sampras has captured a record 14 men's Grand Slam crowns, but there were doubts the 31-year- old could do it again. And now, the guessing is all about whether Sampras is ready to hang up the racket, or go for one more big prize.
Josie Karp talked to the U.S. Open champ. She joins us now. You and I were both out there yesterday, not sitting too far apart from each other.

Someone wrote this morning that he was popping aces like they were coming out of a Pez dispenser.

JOSIE KARP, CNN SPORTS: No, I thought that was a beautiful way to put it. I mean, when he started out the first two sets, there was just -- it looked like there was no way that Agassi could compete, obviously, as you pointed out. Into the fourth set, there was a lot of drama.

But another interesting thing, I was listening to what you said earlier about the woman in front of you with the two signs: "Go Pete" and "Go Andre." It's not unusual for Andre Agassi to have crowd support, but it is unusual for Pete Sampras to be the sentimental favorite. And that's the result of the fact that he has won with such calm and cool and lack of emotion for so long.

For six years, he was the No. 1 player in the world, and the one thing that has really turned him into a sentimental favorite is his vulnerability. And that's sort of like a nice way of saying -- because he started to lose. I mean, for 26 months, this guy who had been the best player in the world did not win a single tournament.

So when I got a chance to talk to him after he finally won again last night, my question was: Did you feel like you kind of showed that, hey, this was really -- all of this talk of the drought was much ado about nothing? Or did you really feel an overwhelming sense of relief?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PETE SAMPRAS, U.S. OPEN WINNER: There were moments this year that I lost confidence, and mentally, I was pretty negative out there. And I just still believed in myself. You know, I went back to work after Wimbledon, and just kind of got myself going, and just believed I could still do it, you know. If I didn't feel like I could win a major, I would stop. You know, but I just believed, and all of the hard work paid off.

KARP (on camera): There were so many incredible storylines going into this final match against Andre Agassi, two living legends, two American legends. Obviously, the ending was what you had hoped for. But was the match what you had hoped for?

SAMPRAS: Well, the match -- it was a pretty hot-level match. I mean, I felt -- I played as well as I could. He stepped it up there in the third and made me work a little bit and ended up breaking me. The fourth all happened pretty quickly. You know, I was down a little bit, and I kind of got myself going, surfing (ph) the match, and that was it.

But, you know, he's the best I have ever played over the years. I mean, he really -- he's got a great game. And at the end, you know, he's my rival. I mean, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), and I have fought (ph) Andre over the years, and he's the best.

KARP: It sounds like over the past couple of weeks, you had said there is no way you'd ever retire after this tournament. Tonight, it sounded a little bit like that door is open. How viable an option is retirement for you right now? Walk away like right now.

SAMPRAS: Well, first and foremost, I want to enjoy this and celebrate and see where I'm at in a couple of months. I said I'm going to play next year. I would love to go back for Wimbledon and try to win there again. But I'm just going to enjoy this. I mean, I'm not thinking too much in the future. I'm just going to relax, have a little fun. And you know, I still love to play, and if I feel like I can win another major, I might continue to play, but we'll see.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KARP: One question that Sampras had to answer over and over, especially at the U.S. Open this week, was whether -- because he got married, he couldn't play anymore. And one of the greatest moments -- and you probably appreciated this, too -- was after he won, you know, he raised his racket, he touched his head in disbelief, and then, he went to look for his wife. He had to go find her and hug her, because in his mind, she's not the reason that he fell off. She is the reason that he got back up, and that he was able to win this tournament.

ZAHN: And he has another little distraction that he is playing in Wimbledon this time next year?

KARP: He'll be...

ZAHN: A little baby.

KARP: He'll be a dad.

ZAHN: He'll be a daddy, and maybe (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Josie Karp, thanks for joining us.

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