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TRANSCRIPT OF INTERVIEWS
(Wimbledon)

P Sampras beat C Pioline 6-4 6-2 6-4

Q. What would you like to tell us, Pete?

A. What would I like to tell you? I'm really pissed. No, - well, I mean, you know, as far as the game to me, this is what it's all about, the major titles, and, you know, to have won ten by the age of 25, or something, I never really thought would happen, and this is what's going to keep me in the game, I hope for a lot of years, the major tournaments. I put so much pressure on myself to do well here, and at the other majors. It makes it all worth it, all the hard work I put into the game. I came through these couple of weeks and played great tennis, pretty much. The only match I really struggled with was against Korda, but every other match, you know, I played very solid. I only lost my serve twice in the whole tournament. That's something that just happened. I served and volleyed about as well as I've ever served and volleyed in my career. So I'm really pumped.

Q. Can you describe, Pete, what it feels like to play that well on such a major occasion?

A. Well, you know, the day off yesterday, it helped me physically, but mentally, I really - you know, you started thinking about the match, 2.00, you know, you get a little bit nervous, more nervous than any match really you've played in your career. That's the final of Wimbledon really for me. You walk out onto the baseline, you look across the net. It's the same court you grew up playing on, so you can't get overwhelmed in the situation. I've played many, many matches and this is just another tennis match. Once the first point starts, you know, you just kind of get into the mind set and the routine that you've done this for so many years, that it's all just muscle memory, and it just goes, and it's something that just clicks on at a certain time. That's one thing I was really pleased with, the pressure that was on me today, because I was the favourite, and to come through and play extremely well, you know, for most of the match, you know, is - part of it experience, having been here before, and the fact that I'm playing very well.

Q. What does it feel like inside, to know that you've really clicked and that you're really going? Is it exhilarating?

A. Well, it's kind of - since you're so keyed up and so anxious, waiting for 2.00 to come around, once you're finally out there playing, and it feels great, especially once I got off to a great start like I did today, you know, you feel relaxed and my tennis just took over, and something maybe I've learned over the years and have dealt with, having been in some other majors in the finals, and it's experience, this is a time where experience helps, because Wimbledon, it's always special to me, especially the finals. So to have won this four times is great. I mean, I'm in a pretty good class of players.

Q. You've won four times now, four different opponents that you've beaten. American sports, for example, rivalries are part of what make big events, like yourself against Becker. Would it be historically more interesting for you in the future, do you think, if you were facing the same guy at least once or twice? Would you enjoy that a little bit more back out there?

A. You know, at this point in my career, there's always been two matches in my career that always stand out, the match in Hannover against Boris where I felt the rivalry was kicking up in Germany, when I played Agassi a couple of years ago at the Open, because there was a lot of interest, especially in the United States, where you need a rivalry, you need some different personalities and when we match up, you know, we have that, Andre and I. Because people that don't follow tennis will follow tennis, to watch that match. For the past couple of years, we really haven't had that in tennis. It seems like if you look at the finals of the Australian, look at the French, but it's so difficult in the 1990s and there are so many great players and so many great players come through the rankings that it's hard to have a rivalry today, you know, compared to ten or fifteen years ago, because the game is so much deeper, so many good players out there.

Q. You have managed to come back four times.

A. Yes, thanks.

Q. You have equalled Rod Laver, one of your heros, as the number of Wimbledons won. How does that feel?

A. It hasn't really hit me yet. I'm sure when I get home and take a couple of weeks off it will settle in and, you know, to have won ten, you know, it just makes me feel that twelve is something that's so much more realistic, that I can break the record. So to be put into the same sentence as a Laver and those guys is something that, you know - you can't have a more flattering comparison to one of the greats of all time in Laver. So this is what's important to me.

Q. With all due respect to Richard Krajicek, there was just a gravity and a determination and a seriousness about the way you played here these weeks. Was there any sense at all that you had lost something that kind of belonged to you for a year?

A. No, I really didn't feel that way at all. I mean, I came into this Wimbledon, I haven't really played that well the last couple of months and Krajicek was one of the favourites. I thought I was one of the favourites, and I didn't feel any different this year. The only thing that was different was that I played a different day at a different time. But it wasn't a big deal. I mean, sure you want to win every Wimbledon you play and last year I ran into a hot player in Richard, and you just have to accept that and move on and hope for next year.

Q. Your win today was a tremendous accomplishment, but were you surprised in any way at how easy it was today and the whole tournament?

A. Well, the Becker match was a big match for me. I mean, that was the one that, you know, I feared the most, because, you know, we all know it's his last Wimbledon and with the support he got from the crowd and the way he's played on grass, you know, it was a big match for me, and today, with all the pressure that comes with being in a final, I thought I handled it very well and Cedric, you know, missed a couple of shots here or there. I think he - the situation might have got to him a little bit in the beginning. I felt he was missing some pretty easy shots. But this is what it's all about to me, really, majors, and, you know, it's one thing that's going to keep me going and playing and competing.

Q. How much fear do you think you feel these days when you play tennis? You used the word "fear" before with Becker.

A. I really have no fear in the game. I feel like if I'm playing well I'm tough to beat. You know, I feel like I've got some options out there, I can stay back or come in, and to serve as well as I have these past couple of weeks, I'm going to be tough to beat, because when I'm confident and playing well, you know, that's it for me.

Q. Did you fear your first Wimbledon final?

A. Yes, the first Wimbledon final, I was more nervous for that match than any other match I've played in my career because I just felt, you know, you're not sure if you're ever going to come back or get back to a final. Playing Jim, I remember it was kind of - the rivalry was there and I was so nervous for that match, but I just thought about that today, I was so nervous and I came out and it all clicks when you start playing, when you get into the heat of the moment, it's just you've done this a thousand times and that's what helped me out today.

Q. How many years, Pete, do you think you can stay at that sort of standard to keep coming back here again and again?

A. Well, as long as I'm playing well and working hard and staying healthy, you know, there's no reason why I can't play at this level for many years.

Q. Do you want to?

A. Do I want to?

Q. Because you are almost the oldest champion for about ten years now and in the game you seem to be getting champions 25 and under. People are wondering how much longer you want to keep playing and going on?

A. For as long as my body can and as long as I enjoy it. Connors, you know, he was still winning some majors when he was in his young 30s, I believe. So as long as I stay healthy and enjoy it, you know, I'm going to keep on playing until there comes a day where I feel like I'm not going to be in contention for slams, that will be the day that I'll stop. You know, I like what Boris did, which I have a lot of respect for, for what Boris did, but I am nowhere near that day.

Q. With Becker on the way out and Andre on an extended honeymoon, who do you consider to be your major rivals?

A. Well, you know, just go down the rankings. Those are the guys that are the toughest to beat. There's not really, you know, one guy that stands out. They are all very tough, and, you know, Agassi was the one guy that a couple of years ago, we had something there that could have - really could have gone down in history as a great rivalry. So the game needs him, and, you know ... But it just seems so sporadic, you know, who's playing who in the finals. For at least the fans in the United States, they need something to grab on to and we had that a couple of years ago.

Q. Are there players who you consider to be a threat or look like they have great potential?

A. You look at Philippoussis and Henman and, you know, those guys, those two guys stand out, and Tommy Haas from Germany is a good player. So those guys stand out.

Q. Is history a bigger rival for you than anybody you play against?

A. I don't like thinking of myself in terms of history. I feel that I'm doing quite well for how old I am, and it's something that's been asked from you guys a lot about history, and I don't look at myself in terms of that. So I feel like I'm still in the middle of my career and it's not over yet. Now I'm battling against all these guys, not history - that's something above everyone. So it's all of those guys who are out to beat you, and to be able to stay on top for as many years as I have is something that is the most important thing to me, to have that longevity to stay on top is not easy to do.

Q. Do you ever see yourself changing the way you are on court and showing more expression and more emotion at all, or do you think you will have to always stay in the sort of locked-in way you play?

A. Well, it's worked so far, so I don't plan on changing anything. I mean, for you guys, or for the - I know I'm not Dave Letterman when it comes to interviews, or whatever, but the way I am on the court is the way I've been my whole life and it's the way I'll continue to be, very much to myself and, you know, a lot like Borg was, this kind of concentrating and focus. That's why when Andre and I were competing, he was the one who had the emotion, and McEnroe was kind of Borg's rival. So that's what the game needs right now. But I don't plan on changing for anybody, because it's who I am.

Q. Did you do anything different between the French and here - you may have been asked this earlier - in the tournament, to prepare for this, anything slightly unusual, or different?

A. No, pretty much the same schedule. I just played Queen's and had a week here. The only thing that was different is that I didn't really get to play much on grass; because of the rain I was hitting indoors. But it was really no different.

Q. What helped your serving consistency?

A. I don't know what happened with the serves, to tell you the truth. They just clicked. They just clicked for every match I played. It really did. It was the shot that won me the tournament. In order to win here, you need to return, and that was also a great shot I was hitting, and passing quite well. But this is the best I think I've ever served in my career.

Q. Is it the best all around that you've played in a slam?

A. Probably, probably. I really didn't struggle in any match, except for the Korda match, when I was two sets up and 5-1 in the tie-breaker. But every match I played I was pretty much in control, and serving well and doing what I wanted to do. But I don't think I've ever played so consistent.

Q. This is your surface, but I mean, again I mentioned before you seem to be peaking at the age of 25 instead of guys doing it younger. Are you surprised that you're doing it this late in your career?

A. 25 is not that late. I don't think it is. I mean, I don't think it's - 25 is still a pretty young guy.

Q. I see a little grey there.

A. Do you see a little grey? Well, I think you're probably looking at terms of maybe McEnroe and Borg, when they were 25. You know, Borg retired, McEnroe - that was the year he won his last major. But I feel like I can get better, that I can improve and I can have another opportunity in a couple of months to win the Open and that's where I'm at. So I feel like I can get better, and as long as I'm working hard and staying healthy, there's - that's really up to me.

Q. Have you got to a period at all when you've either gotten overfatigued, or a little bit bored or a little disillusioned with the game and its demands and all of that?

A. Well, there are times when you're tired and you've played a lot of tennis, or I've been in Europe for a couple of months, or whatever, that you feel that way, but when it comes to a major I don't feel that way at all, because this is an opportunity to win another one and this is what's important to me as a tennis player, are the major tournaments. You play these other

tournaments to really get yourself ready for the major tournaments, and, you know, with all the rain for the past couple of weeks, sure, there were some tough days staying in all day and doing nothing, but this is what's important to me, as a player, is trying to do well at the majors.

Q. What was going through your mind at the end there, Pete, when you were holding the trophy up and wandered around in front of the crowd?

A. I started thinking about the actual championship at 4-3 in the third when I was serving and I got a little tentative and tight down to break point, and it was weird. Kind of the match was in my hands and I didn't want to have it slip away, but I played a good service game to win it, and, boom, I was - it just seemed like I won pretty smooth, and, you know, I shook his hand and I just felt that I played very well, and I was pumped, and to hold the trophy again and look at all the names on the trophy, and to see mine four times is something that I'll always remember.

Q. Why do you think your serve clicked so well this tournament?

A. I don't know. I can't explain it. There was nothing technical I was doing different from previous years, or from a couple of months ago. It's just I got a great rhythm, hit a lot of aces and volleyed well behind my serves. I was very pleased with my second serve, which is just as important on grass, and so, you know, it just clicked.

Q. Michael Stich said the other day that you are so successful because all you do is think about tennis, maybe to the expense of other life experiences. Do you feel you have to justify that?

A. No, no, because I've got what - when I'm done playing I've got the rest of my life to do what I want, when I'm finished at 30, or 35, whenever I stop. So, you know, I feel like when I'm done, I don't want to have any regrets when I look back at my career and have years or months that I wasn't into the game at all. So that's where I'm at. I mean, this is my job and this is what I love to do.

Q. In matches like today when, from the beginning you were so consistent, do you have thoughts just during the first set or the beginning of the second, "I can't lose this match"? Do you have these kind of thoughts?

A. Well, you don't - anything is possible, even though I won the first set. There was still a long way to go, but I felt like I was putting a lot of pressure on his service games and I was making him work and he got a little careless and missed some easy shots. I just felt if I kept on applying the pressure on him that I would have some chances and I did, and things went real smooth.

Q. How many Wimbledons would you trade for one French title?

A. Not many. Sure, I mean, the French is the one that's giving me the most problems and this year wasn't great, but, you know, for one thing I was happy I got over what happened at the French to get ready for this one, and when the clay court season comes around for next year I'll be thinking about the French. But Wimbledon is the biggest one we have in the game, and the French is the one that has given me the problems. So it's a challenge for me to play well there.

Q. How many Wimbledons do you feel you could go on to win and how much do records mean to you?

A. Well, you can't put a number on how many Wimbledons you expect to win. I didn't expect to win four by the age of 25. You can't plan on - you can't set goals that high in a career. What was your other question?

Q. How much do records mean to you?

A. Well, the more that I've won recently, it's something that's been asked, you know, about breaking the 12, and that's important to me, sure. I mean, as a player, you want to break the records, and I'm in a position that I can do that, like I said, playing well, and staying healthy. You know, it's up to me, you know, wait and see what happens.

Q. Do you have four Wimbledon trophies with you?

A. Small replicas.

Monday, 22nd June 1998
P Sampras bt D Hrbaty 6-3 6-3 6-2

Q. Are you happy with your form today?

A. Yes, I was very pleased. It was nice to be out there, you know. It was a very long week of practice and everything, playing indoor, playing outdoor, so it was nice to get off to a good start and I played pretty well. It's always a little bit unsettling playing your first match on a Grand Slam. You just want to get through.

Q. How was the court, Pete?

A. The court is playing very nice. Good bounces, it wasn't too slippery out there. It was playing real nice.

Q. Is there a psychological feeling when you come to a place like Centre Court in Wimbledon, something that sort of almost unconsciously or subconsciously says, "This is where I make my living, right here, this is my court, that's a psychological boost for me"?

A. Well, it's -- you know, the atmosphere, you know, how big this tournament is, you know, it's obviously the biggest tournament we have in the game, and if you can't get up for an event like this you shouldn't be playing. So I don't know if it's mental or what it is, but this place over the years has brought out the best in me and you get a little bit more keyed up and fired up going out there at 2.00 on Monday. So, you know, I don't read too much into it, but I just look at it as a Grand Slam and a huge event, and, you know, it's obviously over the years it's been treating me pretty well.

Q. About five years out of six you've played on that - pardon my language - virgin court. Is there anything you do in terms of knowing how the court plays that gives you an advantage over the guy who most of the time obviously hasn't played on that court in that condition before?

A. I'm -- what do you mean?

Q. It's a little greasier and there's things you know about it because you've played it for the first time many times in the past, so you can use that to your advantage over a guy like this today?

A. I think if anything, the court playing today, I think Dominik is not too familiar with playing on grass, you know, it's kind of a new experience for him, and I think he handled it pretty well. Sure, it's a little bit greasy, but I think the guys have been playing on grass, and, you know, when it's a brand new court, it's going to be playing, you know, pretty true out there. So I don't really think it's a big deal.

Q. How does this compare with your match at the Australian?

A. They're completely different circumstances, playing on a very hot day, on a surface that Korda's a little bit more comfortable playing on. He's obviously comfortable on the clay or the hard court. He had me down 4-1 in the fifth, and I was down and out, and I ended up winning that match and winning the tournament. Playing today was, you know, a grass court, my favourite surface, one of my favourite surfaces, and so, you know, he came out a little bit nervous, but I thought I played pretty well and served quite well.

Q. Pete, only one of the double faults hurt you today. Did you think that some of the others might have been you just feeling very confident about your serve and thinking, "Can we go for a little bit more here on the second"?

A. Yes, it depends on the score, it depends on how I'm feeling, as far as my confidence through the match, and, you know, your second serve is even more important than your first serve out there on the grass. I mean, that's -- you know, that's the shot that's going to, you know, take you a long way in this tournament, is your second serve. You know, you're only as good as your second serve. So when I get up there I'm trying to mix it up and go for it a little bit more and if I'm up 30-0 or 40-0, so there are times you feel like you go for it, sometimes you feel like you want to take it off a bit, go for the body, mix it up, you always want to mix it up.

Q. You're not disturbed by the number you hit today?

A. No, I was going for it and just missing it by a little bit. He returned pretty well and put a bit of pressure on me. I don't know what I hit, maybe 6 or 7 today, 8. So it's not a big concern.

Q. You've had a very rollercoaster year. Do you think in your heart of hearts Emerson's record is in touch and you can get it?

A. Sure, I think it's something that is realistic. You know, it has been a bit of an up and down year, but obviously I have a chance here and a chance in a couple of months in New York to win a Grand Slam, and that's kind of how I measure my year. You know, I'm just going to give it my best shot, obviously, but I think I'm young enough, you know, that I can do it, and we'll see over the course of the next four or five years if I can do it.

Q. Do you think your form this week is -- do you feel in your best form, compared to the rest of the year? I mean, do you feel that you're playing your best tennis of the year right now?

A. Well, you know, if you look at my year last year, you know, it was pretty similar, you know, coming into Wimbledon this year, except I won the Australian last year, and so, you know, they're just different parts of the year that I kind of struggle through, and obviously the clay court season wasn't great again, but, you know, Wimbledon is kind of a new start and it's the only hope I can recapture my year by playing well here, and obviously the surface is to my liking, and I've had a lot of good memories playing here, so I hope that continues.

Q. A couple of weeks ago, you were very upset after losing at Queen's, and very angry. How long did it take for you to recover and what did you do to recover and to get in good shape and have a good concentration for the championships?

A. What happened at Queen's, you know, Queen's has been an up and down tournament for me, and, you know, playing Woodforde 11.00 in the morning, I'm not much of a kind of early morning guy, and, you know, the court is pretty slick out there and I wasn't used to that. He played a good match, and as soon as that match was over, sure, I was disappointed for a couple of days, but you have a chance at Wimbledon and to try to regain your form. So I had a pretty good week of practice, and I was very motivated to play here and hopefully do this again.

Q. When will you be writing that article for Tennis Magazine on how to win points with a broken string?

A. I go to church a lot. I don't know. It's interesting. The guys know I break a string and they maybe get a little tight or something, and I serve my racquet so tight that obviously I lose a lot of tension, but when you're racquet balling or whatever, you just kind of pray out there, and hopefully -- it was a big point today, it was a 30-30 point when I broke my string, so it's just kind of a fluke thing that it seemed to win those points.

Q. Pretty good volleys with a busted string?

A. Yes, just try to keep them in the court, you know, and obviously string my racquet 80 pounds and it probably goes down to 30 pounds in a matter of a second. So just try to make it and just try to make the volley.

Q. Pete, how are you handicapped this tournament? What other guys who are just generally playing their best or have the best shot here, because a lot of people, after you, you sort of wonder who really the main threats are?

A. I'll give you the guys who have won here in the past, Krajicek and Andre, it seems like he's playing pretty well. You know, you've got -- just go down the rankings, those are your guys that are going to be there. But it's really pretty open. I mean, anyone that has a big serve, and there are a lot of big servers out there, if they get hot at the right time, anything is possible out there on the grass courts, and it should be an interesting couple of weeks. 

Q. Is it going to be hard for to you adjust -- you see the guys who did well at the US Open last year sort of came out of nowhere. Is that a mixed change for you, when you had maybe had Andre there for a few years as a main guy, or something like that? Has it changed for you at all, not having somebody, one specific person that you had a rivalry with?

A. No, you know, with Andre a couple of years ago, I mean, we were playing each other quite a bit, we were both playing very well, but obviously that's not quite like it was a couple of years ago. Now it seems like there's a bunch of guys breaking through this year. Rios has probably had the most consistent year, and Moya winning the French and Korda winning the Australian. So there's a number of guys that are obviously having great years. But it's no different for me. My motivation -- it's not really one player; all these guys are pushing me, and obviously in the major tournaments that's what gets me going, and I'll give it my best shot here.

(INTERVIEW CONCLUDED)

Wednesday, 24th June 1998
P Sampras bt M Tillstrom 6-4 6-4 7-6(5)

Q. Two matches, straight sets. Are you glad about that?

A. Yes, I feel pretty good. It's a little different playing on Court 1, I think. It's a little bit firmer, a little bit quicker than the stadium court. It took me a while to get used to that. The first two matches, things are going pretty smooth. I couldn't ask for a better start. So we'll just go from here.

Q. Can you come to a tournament like this, obviously having had great success, and kind of put aside that the year hasn't been that great for you, and just ride on the confidence of the years before?

A. Yes, I'm very keyed up for this event. I've had a lot of good memories playing here, and so I've no problems coming here, having the year I've had. Hopefully I can recapture my year by playing here. My year was pretty similar last year at this point. So, you know, I feel good, and we'll just go from here, you know, a good start for me.

Q. Pete, Krajicek said that after Queen's you had said this isn't that important a tournament, and he said he'd never heard you say that before and thought maybe that indicated a motivation lack.

A. I've never said that Queen's is not an important tournament. You know, it's obviously not Wimbledon, but, you know, you use Queen's as preparation, you use Queen's as getting matches, but I've never said it's not important. There are tournaments that are more important than others, but, you know, I go out each tournament, no matter what it is, hoping to win it. So I don't know where he got that.

Q. Your slump this winter and spring, if you call it that, has there been anything technical? Has there been a motivational lack? You're sort of -- I read some comments that have been mixed. You said at one point you hadn't lacked any motivation, and at another point you said that you got off to a bad start, and you hadn't gotten a rest and next year you'll do it better? 

A. Well, I've learnt a lot, this year as far as my schedule, and having a bit of a break at the end of the year, and when this year is over, I'm going to make an effort to try to get away from the game, and I didn't feel like I had a chance to do that, but at this point in the year, I'm obviously very motivated, not only for this event, but for a couple of months at the US Open. When the year is over, I do plan on going on a vacation and getting away from the game, so when I do come back and getting ready for Australia, I'll be motivated and a little bit eager. Going down to Australia, I felt a little bit tired from having a long year, and getting hurt, and getting through that injury. So, if anything, this year I've learned what I need to do and what I need to do if I'm going to play this game for a lot of years. So I'm obviously very motivated. If you can't get up for this event, you shouldn't be playing.

Q. Was it the calf? Was that maybe the worst injury you've ever had?

A. It's the worst injury as far as timing is concerned. You know, when I hurt it the last event of the year, obviously we lost the Davis Cup because of that, and I spent the next three weeks, you know, taking care of it, and that wasn't -- that was my off season, pretty much, going to treatment twice a day, every day for three weeks. Then, by 20th December, I started feeling pretty good, and I pretty much had to get ready for Australia and I didn't feel like I had the time to get away, and re-energise myself, and so, you know, it's part of the season, it's a very long season, but this year I'm going to make an effort to get away, so when I come back, I'll have that eagerness or motivation to go down to Australia.

Q. When you say "get away", you mean back home and relaxing?

A. Yes, not even thinking tennis, not even picking up a racquet, and just go and have some fun, you know, and it's been a while since I've done that. It's been a while. I mean, the years -- one after another, you know, it kind of hit me in the last year. You know, you need to be fresh in your body, you need to be fresh in your mind, and so, you know, I'm just talking putting the racquet up, playing some golf and having some fun for a couple of weeks.

Q. People over and over have been talking about this "Does Pete have a motivational problem?". Did you feel like -- forget that you needed to get away from the game, did you feel like it took longer to get your motor running motivationally, or actually is that overstated?

A. It's overstated. I mean, sure, you can't treat each week, you know, like it's a Wimbledon or the US Open. I mean, you're going to have -- as much as I'm playing, you know, you've got to find something deep down to get that motivation, and obviously, if you play well through the year, you know, my main goal -- one of my main goals this year was to try to end the year number one and I haven't given myself a great chance by the first four or five months, but I still want to win, like everyone I want to win, I don't like losing, but there's no question, I'll get through this. I've done it before.

Q. Pete, I noticed when you walked on to the grounds today that nobody stopped you, nobody asked for an autograph, nobody seemed to blink. Does that happen to you a lot here and does it surprise you, given how many times you've won?

A. Well, I was in a bit of a hurry because Greg pulled out, and all of a sudden I was on in twenty minutes with Graf playing, and so I didn't really want to be stopped, and so I kind of put my head down, and off I was. But, sure, if I walk round the grounds, I wouldn't get very far. But, you know, I was in a hurry to obviously get ready for my match, and actually felt a little bit rushed going out there, but I handled it pretty well. But, you know, it's interesting. I mean, when you win Wimbledon for the first time, I mean, you're immediately recognised, and when I came here when I was number one in the world and I didn't win Wimbledon, people really didn't know who I was, and then once you win this tournament, this is the biggest tournament in the world, and especially here in England, I mean, it's very big.

Q. Is that every place you go? Like, when you're in the mall at home, or maybe, you know, wherever, do you find people always -- there's always somebody every place that recognises you, or are there places you can go where you can just --

A. It just depends. You know, for instance, if I'm at home, maybe people will put it together that that's me. I mean, I get a lot of stares and people aren't quite sure if that's me. But, if there's a tournament in town, like Cincinnati or Indianapolis, and there's a tournament in town, people put it together that I'm probably who I am.

Q. You're kidding.

A. It just depends on the week, it depends on where I'm at.

Q. Anything at all technical? I keep going back to that. You don't recognise anything that needs work?

A. No.

Q. What about the guys you play -- you said it in the past, over the past year, but you've also said now that there's a lot more guys, the depth is there, the guys are stronger, bigger, faster. Do you notice that your game -- you're going to need to step your game up some more, or do you notice your game isn't getting the results in maybe the last winter or spring that it would have a few years ago?

A. Last winter I had a great end of the year, and I think you're trying to --

Q. Pretty much from January.

A. Well, you know, I just -- the level has always been very strong for the past five years. I mean, when I was, you know, playing the Beckers, Edbergs, Stichs, and now it just seems like everyone can play. Everyone can always play, but it seems like, you know, there are no sure things. So sure, you have to raise your level and play well but, as far as my game, my game is there and I'm tough to beat and I know that, and if you're not playing well, if you're not confident, you know, these guys, they'll take the opportunity and beat you, and that's happened to me this year, but, you know, you can't afford to have bad days any more. I mean, I've had bad days and I've gotten through some matches, but today, I mean, these guys are very hungry and they seem like they're getting younger and younger. But you know, I'm fine. I mean, I'm obviously very motivated and very eager to try to win here. So that's my main concern.

Q. Does that kind of surprise you a little bit? I mean, you're saying they're getting younger and younger, but if you were actually out in the real world, you would be almost like starting your career.

A. That depends on what I was doing. Yes, I mean, you look at, you know, Rios and Moya, and guys like that, they're pretty young. On the other hand, you have Petr Korda who's having a great year and he's 30. I feel like I'm kind of in the middle of my career, and, you know, you just look at the young Spaniards coming up, they've got fifteen, twenty in the top 100. So it just seems like there are a number of guys that have just broken through over the past year, and most of them are from Spain, you know, playing on the clay, and so we'll see. It should be a good race at the end of the year.

Q. Attention to women's tennis has risen. Is that explainable to you?

A. Say it again?

Q. Attention to women's tennis has risen. There seems to be a boom in women's tennis. Is that explainable to you? Can you explain that?

A. Yes, it's very obvious with Graf coming back, Hingis, you know, and Venus Williams, that rivalry, and you have Kournikova, and you have some good rivalries, good match-ups, and a lot of interest off the court too, which helps, so, you know ...

Q. So you like to watch it more yourself as well?

A. I don't want to get carried away.

Monday, 29th June 1998
P Sampras bt T Enqvist 6-3 7-6(4) 7-6(3)

Q. Did you warm up for that on Friday?

A. I never had a match last three days. It was a long, long weekend.

Q. Were you actually out here on Friday warming up for this?

A. Yes.

Q. Indoors?

A. Actually, I think I hit outdoor, but then I thought I was going to play, then it rained, and then it was just a long weekend for everyone.

Q. Pete, quality opponent, quality win. Do you have a little bit of a different feel right now, after three rounds of pretty consistent tennis?

A. Yes, I feel first week, I really have no complaints the way I'm playing. It was a very tough match today. I mean, Thomas is obviously not as used to the grass court surface compared to a hard court, but he serves very, very big, especially his second serve, and if he's going to serve that big he's going to hold serve on grass and it came down to a couple of breakers. I feel like my tennis is pretty good right now. It was nice to be out there this afternoon, the atmosphere was great, the people are really into it. So I really just kind of go from here and hopefully play well tomorrow.

Q. Do you perhaps feel a rhythm in your game right now that you haven't often enough felt earlier this year?

A. Well, the rhythm is there. I feel pretty good, and I'm serving well, and that's really the key to playing well on grass. My second serve has got, you know, some pretty good bite on it right now, so, I mean, it's been a pretty good first three matches, but you know, this year has been a little bit up and down, but it's really been a little bit consistent here, so hopefully I can maintain that.

Q. Has it been your serve that's been the problem since basically -- since winter?

A. Well, no, not really. I mean, if anything, I just had some bad days, you know, so I'm -- the serve is fine. That's obviously the main part of my game. So, you know, it's really not a concern.

Q. What is it like in the middle of a tournament like this to have this kind of three day delay? To actually come out on Friday and finish on Monday, and you came out on Saturday with six aces, and have this thing drag on like that, do you charge yourself up and just get frustrated by the whole thing?

A. It's an emotional rollercoaster. Really, you get up for playing, you know, and you come off, and you have a twenty minute delay, you come back, play a game, you know, you have yesterday off, which was kind of bizarre, they don't play on middle Sunday. So you get the highs and lows. It rained for an hour today -- a couple of hours, and you don't really do much. Then when it stops raining you have to get yourself emotionally keyed up again, get ready for the match, and it's the same for everybody. It's not easy, you've just got to try your best, obviously.

Q. When you lost to Krajicek a couple of years ago, it was that same type of thing.

A. You certainly -- you get into a rhythm in a match, you know, you get a certain feel for the match, and when you have rain delays, you know, a player might talk to his coach and come up with some new strategy. It's not easy, you know. It can work to your benefit and it can also hurt you. In the Krajicek match, I think obviously it probably hurt me more than it helped me, that rain delay. But it's part of Wimbledon, it's part of the aura about this place, you're going to have a lot of rain delays and we certainly had our fair share.

Q. What kind of things can you do to try to fire yourself up and go out on the court in a real strong competitive mode?

A. They usually give you fifteen or twenty minutes notice when you're going to play, so you spend that time, you know, stretching and getting warmed up, make sure you go out there ready to go. You can't get off to a slow start, especially on grass. You can get, you know, your serve broken quickly. So it's just important to get your mind straight, you know, get your thoughts together, and get ready to play.

Q. What do you do to pass the time, the non-tennis time? 

A. Well, you just kind of hang out, you know, you're in the locker room and you're just waiting for the rain to stop. It's always hard, not knowing whether to eat. If you eat too much -- it's kind of a science, if you ask me. It's not easy, you know. So a lot of hanging around, a lot of dead time, and there's nothing really you can do.

Q. Does it ever get easier, because you've been through this so many times, or really is it every time it happens, is it --

A. Every time it happens, it's -- because, when you start a match and then it stops and you come back out, it changes, you know, the look of the match. Up to a 6-3, 1-0 lead, he comes back out, holds serves easily, starts playing better, starts serving better and it can definitely change a match. But experience helps up to a certain point. Eventually you just have to go out and play. But there's nothing you can do, except just wait it out.

Q. There really haven't been very many quality matches so far this year. Is that because players are not able to get into a rhythm and kind of feel each other out, both people on the same court? 

A. I really haven't seen a lot of tennis, but I'm sure the level is pretty high here, no, I think if you look at the previous years, you always have rain delays, you always have days where you don't play on grass, you play indoor. Sure, it would be nice to have great days and you get into a routine, play every other day. Now I'm playing tomorrow, then hopefully on Wednesday. So you get into -- you know, it's just part of Wimbledon. You know, you just kind of come here, expecting you're going to have rain delays, expecting you're going to have days like this and you've just got to find a way to win.

Q. You got a bad call in the tie-break, Pete. It was very obvious from the TV replay the ball was on the line.

A. Which call?

Q. In the tie-break, a ball that was -- I'll try to remember exactly when it was. It was a forehand down the line, passing shot. It hit the line but was called out. It was your passing shot, and it was called out.

A. In the tie-breaker in the second or third set? Was it today?

Q. Was this the turning point?

A. I don't even remember. This match has taken forever. Was it a backhand? I think it was a backhand.

Q. Yes, cross-court. It was on the line.

A. I don't remember.

Q. It really affected you pretty strongly.

A. There were some tough calls out there, the Cyclops didn't seem like it was working that well, so they turned it off, and then they did it by their eye. But there were some tough calls out there.

Q. Pete, everybody is talking about what's wrong with you this year, and we talked to Krajicek the other day and, you know, he gave us, I guess, kind of what amounted to a lecture about Pete Sampras. One of the things he mentioned I want to ask you about, he said that he kind of considered you right now like maybe the tenth ranked player in the world, I guess. Do you consider yourself like that, number 10 in the world right now, based on this year?

A. That stuff really doesn't phase me. I know my capabilities. I know how I'm playing this week. That's really my main concern. That's right, the year has been a little bit up and down, but this point last year, my year was pretty similar, except I won Australia. So, you know, whatever, no, it doesn't really phase me.

Q. Is he like the only one to take the players head to head, or something?

A. He beat me the last couple of times obviously here, and I played him in the last year in Stuttgart. He's got a big game.

Q. Pete, in the last five years, you lost only one Wimbledon in Centre Court. But have you played on other courts as well?

A. Have I played on other courts?

Q. I mean not Centre Court, not Court 1.

A. What other courts have I played on? Here? I've played on everything. You know, 13, 14, you know, they put me everywhere here.

Q. I think he means since you've been champion?

A. No, it's just been pretty much on Centre and Court 1. Court 2 maybe a couple of times.

Q. How do you consider your worst year in terms of rain delays, in terms of getting used to the --

A. The worst year as far as rain delays?

Q. Yes.

A. Well, this is up there. Last year, I played Tuesday, then Friday, I think, you know, that's -- you know, once you have a couple of days off -- I mean, but this is definitely up there, as far as rain delays are concerned and, you know, it was weird yesterday, obviously it was a nice day yesterday, and it was just weird kind of sitting on the match for a day to kind of reflect on what you're trying to do out there. So, like I say, this is part of being here, part of what Wimbledon provides, and that's obviously a lot of rain.

Q. Qualifier in the next round, any thoughts on that?

A. A qualifier who has won three matches, so at this point he's confident, he's playing well. I practised with him one time, in Paris, and, you know, anyone that's still around in the second week is playing well, and I'm sure he will he' be hungry to beat me. But I feel like I'm playing well, so I'll go out and see if I can do it.

Q. Is your girlfriend here, or is she coming?

A. No. She's not here.

Q. How do you eat properly in a situation like the last few days?

A. Well, because you don't know when it's going to rain or when you're going on, you just try to eat pretty light, you know, and try to just snack a little bit. You can't afford to have a big, you know, big meal or anything. You don't want to go out there on a full stomach. So, you know, you always have a couple of bites of a sandwich or something, just to make sure you don't go out there empty.

Q. Pete, are you a sociable guy during these delays? You just want to be left alone in the locker room, "Everybody get away from me and let me be alone with my thoughts"?

A. The locker room is packed with players and also with the Over 35s and Over 45s. There is a room downstairs where I obviously spend most of my time, and there are obviously players around there. You just shoot the you know what and just hang out, you know. You watch golf on TV, or whatever.

Q. You don't play any card games and stuff?

A. No.

Q. Borg used to play games in the locker room, video games and stuff.

A. That must have worked.

(INTERVIEW CONCLUDED)

Tuesday, 30th June 1998
P Sampras bt S Grosjean 6-3 6-4 6-4

Q. Hey, not bad for number 10. That was pretty good.

A. Yes, maybe I'll make it one day.

Q. Do you feel like, you know, every match it's what you want to do?

A. Yes, I felt pretty good today. You know, I haven't played a baseliner so far, so it was a little bit unusual at first. But, you know, as far as my tennis, I'm like playing pretty well and holding serve pretty handily, and, you know, I feel like I'm playing well and at this point this the tournament, everyone is a threat and so, I mean, it's been a pretty good week.

Q. Did you have any problems? Your left knee, you were wearing something on your left knee when you started the match.

A. Yes, on grass, you always are having some aches and pains here, and the back of my knee is a little bit sore yet, and today I felt it. So, you know -- but once you start playing, you get that adrenaline. Everything kind of just goes away. You're always going to have little aches here and there. You just have to play through it.

Q. How different is number 1 to Centre?

A. It's different. It definitely is much firmer, maybe a touch quicker. I mean, just a little bit. It plays a little bit differently. It definitely takes a little time to get used to. I've played on Centre my last match. So, you know, it was a little bit slipperier, just a little bit different.

Q. Pete, after taking in effect four days to play one match, and then a couple of hours, was it strange getting back into a pattern of normal tennis?

A. Yes, it was nice. It was nice to -- it was supposed to rain again I think today, and it was nice to play, and actually to start a match and complete a match in one day was nice. So, you know, it's a little bit easier to deal with. Coming on and off the court with the rain delays is always a little bit of -- can screw with your mind a little bit. But today it was nice to go out and play and get it done.

Q. I don't know if you read the papers, Pete, but do you notice that most of the emphasis is on other players and not so much on you? Do you find that reassuring that you're kind of coming through unnoticed almost?

A. Well, that's the way I kind of like it. You know, I don't want to get into the headlines. With Tim obviously playing well he's going to get most of them. But it's not really been a concern of mine. My goal here is to try to win here and, you know, positive and negative press really doesn't phase me. You know, I've got one goal in mind and that's to try to win here.

Q. Are you surprised to see guys like Siemerink and Sanguinetti still standing here, particularly with the weather and stuff?

A. I don't think the weather has anything to do with it. You're always going to have different parts of the draw, guys are going to break through. We've seen that over the years and playing Grosjean today, he qualified and went through his draw pretty well. So you're going to have spaces in the draw where Rios lost and it opens things up. By Siemerink can play good on grass, great serve and volleyer. Sanguinetti is a little bit of a surprise, but he's obviously playing well. 

Q. What about Goran? He obviously is a threat here, and yet he had been playing so bad lately. Are you surprised that he is rolling in all the way he is and how dangerous is he, do you think?

A. I'm not surprised. Grass is his best surface. I mean, he's got one of the biggest serves ever, I believe, and he gets his mind into it, and it seems like he's been playing well, and he's very much a threat. He's gotten to the finals here twice. So, you know, if he gets his serve going right, he's going to be there. So he's definitely a threat.

Q. Pete, there are a couple of people here who are dangerous. Is a lot of that because you have so many people here who have big serves? Is that the danger part?

A. Yes, they can serve big and that's a threat. I play Philippoussis tomorrow. He's got one of the biggest serves on tour. A couple of swings of the return, you can lose a set 6-4. So anyone that can serve big, Krajicek or, you know, Goran or Philippoussis, when they get their serve going and they get hot, it's very tough to beat them.

Q. Pete, it seems like every summer, stories come out in the States, anyhow, about men's tennis not being interesting enough, the whole of the American crowd and what's the matter with it, etc. How much of that do you think is marketing and how the players themselves are marketed? If you look at the MBA, they take guys who don't necessarily have anything more interesting to say than a tennis player, but they turn them into a star through shoe commercials and fast food commercials. You had that commercial with Agassi when you were playing tennis across the street. Should the tour take a different approach to marketing the men?

A. Yes, all the sports in the States are really successful, look at golf, they do a great job at marketing, the PGA does a great job, and tennis, Nike has really marketed myself and Andre well over the years, but, you know, I just think obviously the tour can do a better job marketing the game in the States. You still look at the game, you look at the US Open, the game is still doing well. It's obviously not quite at the level as an MBA. MBA is above and beyond all the other sports. So, you know, it's really kind of up to the tour. I'm trying to do that as a player, but we'll see what happens. Definitely, with Andre playing better, which helps, you definitely need Americans playing well to have this game be successful in the States.

Q. Couldn't they have just as much interest in international rivalry? When Connors was playing Borg or McEnroe, it wasn't an American versus an American. It's just that they played up the personalities of the guys involved. Isn't it more of a personality thing than a nationalistic thing?

A. When the game was successful, you had four of the guys in the top five playing themselves in the semis and finals of all the slams. They were all different personalities and they all hated each other. So it's great theatre, you know. And now, you know, it's sad but true. That's what the game probably needs, you know. It needs a little controversy. It needs a little bit of a Dennis Rodney type of guy.

Q. A little more hatred?

A. Yes, a hatred, or whatever you want to call it. So that's kind of where we're at. You need a rivalry. You need something so that people not following the game might follow the game. With Andre and our rivalry a couple of years ago, you know, tennis in the States was great, and now it seems to have fizzled, but I guess for me, I'm obviously worrying about my tennis and, you know, the popularity is obviously I want to see, to be a little bit more popular, but there's only so much I can do.

Q. Are you surprised at all that nobody has stepped up and won a couple of slams and, you know, got into the position so people are saying, "This is the guy who's going to push Sampras", there are different champions emerging all the time? Do you have an explanation for that? Strength of field is obviously one thing, but is there something lacking to stop some of these guys winning a couple of titles and making a run at you?

A. I think the game today is very, very strong. You know, guys now know -- you look at the last couple of years of slam winners, you just get out at the right time. You know, you can win a slam. You don't have, you know, the consistent winner, each slam or each week. It seems like each week is a different winner. I think it's good for the game, it keeps it exciting but, you know, I don't have an explanation. It just seems like there are a lot of young guys coming through, Rios, and Korda is having a great year. So, you know, the game is very, very strong, and these guys are hungry to obviously beat me, and beat all the top guys, and the game is very, very strong.

Q. What Krajicek said seemed not that pleasing to you, speaking of the former question. Do you think that is pervasive in the locker room? Is this the tennis version of trash talk? What is this about? Is he trying to get to you? What do you think this is all about?

A. I don't really know what you're talking about.

Q. When Krajicek said you're the tenth ranked player in the world, and I asked you about this the other day, and you didn't seem that pleased.

A. It doesn't really phase me.

Q. This will be the first time, Pete, that Philippoussis has made the quarters at a Grand Slam. Would you have expected him to come along quicker than this after Melbourne in '96?

A. Sure, you know, he's got the tools. He's got the game. He's got the serve and the game to, you know, maybe have won a slam by now. He's got a great game. I mean, he's very, very powerful, but, you know, it takes experience, it takes good playing and he's still a very young guy and he's going to get better as the years go on and he will get experience. So tomorrow's match is going to be a hard hitting match.

Q. Pete, you've been on the circuit for years, you've done hundreds of these press conferences, tons of interviews, but could you take a moment, and is there one thing that we don't know about Pete Sampras? Is there anything you can share with us?

A. I don't know.

Q. You said you wore a blindfold when you go to sleep a couple of years ago. That we know.

A. If anything, I just think I'm pretty normal. I think because you play good tennis everyone thinks there's got to be something a little bit quirky about you, and there really isn't about me. I'm kind of your normal guy that just happens to play good tennis, and that's really it. There's not a lot to analyse with me, I feel.

Q. Are you following the World Cup?

A. It's hard not to follow it. Yes, a little bit. It's pretty exciting, but --

Q. What do you think of England's chances tonight?

A. I've been rooting for England since I've been here.

(INTERVIEW CONCLUDED)

Wednesday, 1st July 1998
P Sampras bt M Philippoussis 7-6(5) 6-4 6-4

Q. I know you've played Tim Henman at Wimbledon before, but this will be a semi-final on Centre Court, against a country that's nursing a big wound at the moment. How do you expect to treat it?

A. Yes, I played Tim many years ago, and he's obviously a much different player today, and, you know, I've been in this position before, playing -- you know, playing Becker in Germany, and now probably playing Tim here in England. It will be tough. I mean, he's obviously playing well. But I feel like I'm in good form. So it should be a good match.

Q. Will you be feeling sorry for England at all after losing to Argentina, maybe give Henman a break a bit?

A. Hopefully by Friday, it will be over.

Q. It's never going to be over.

A. I felt so bad for the guy last night.

Q. Did you watch it?

A. Yes.

Q. What did you think? What were your thoughts when you were watching it?

A. Well, I don't -- I mean, you know, I don't know football that well and, you know, I was just -- it was a very exciting first half, some scoring, and, you know, losing in penalties is a tough way to lose, you know.

Q. A tie-breaker in the fifth set?

A. It's the same. On grass, like playing today, it could have gone either way.

Q. Speaking of today, how do you feel the way things went? You've got to be happy.

A. Yes, I'm happy. You know, with the wind, that court is very tough to play on right now. Court 1 is so much different than Centre. It's a little tougher to move. It's just quicker out there, and the key to the match was just a couple of points in the tie-breaker. He double faulted a couple on break points, and that was pretty much it. There's not a whole lot to talk about. I was serving well. I held on to my serve pretty well the whole match. At this level, as hard as we're hitting the ball on a court that quick, it's going to come down to a couple of points, and I got those today.

Q. How did you rate Philippoussis today?

A. You know, it's just a couple of points out there, it really is. You know, he had a couple of good returns in the breaker, he goes through the big second serves and at times you're going to pay the price, because you go for big second serves, but he's obviously got the ability. He's got the talent. He's very, very dangerous. He's got one of the biggest second serves in the game. But, you know, the talent is there. He's still a young guy and he's going to get better and better as the years go on.

Q. You practise a lot with Henman. You must know his game reasonably well from the practice courts as well. How has he come on as a player over the last couple of years?

A. He just -- he's added a lot of strength. I remember playing him four years ago and, you know, he's just a lot more powerful. His serve -- he's serving very, very big. He's just -- he's got a really good all round court game. There's not that many players today that have that, you know. He does everything very well. So it will be a straightforward grass court match. So there won't be any surprises.

Q. You're very popular here, obviously defending champion who won four times and here comes the home town favourite. How are you going to be able to deal with the crowd and what do you think their reaction will be when you guys are out there?

A. I'm expecting them obviously to be rooting for Tim, but, you know, in a match I played a couple of years ago against Rusedski, when he all of a sudden turned English -- sorry. Is that good for you guys? I'm trying to help. I'm in trouble now. That was a tough -- I mean, the crowd was obviously pulling for him. I think the toughest crowd I've ever played in front of was probably against Boris in Germany, that's really tough, in some of the Davis Cup matches. But come Friday, it's going to be tough. I'm expecting it. So I feel like I'm ready.

Q. If I remember correctly, I think you said once that that match against Boris was one of your favourites, because it really felt big, and you haven't had that many matches like that, actually, you know, like a heavy weight championship. Do you expect this to be on that level? Boris is a little bit on a different level than Tim in terms of accomplishment.

A. Yes, a little bit. I haven't played Tim much. I mean, Boris and I obviously had a lot of history, playing him, a huge event in Germany. But, you know, this event will obviously be watched all over England and obviously all over the world. You know, I'm just looking forward to it. It will be a good fight.

Q. When you have the crowd against you, the situation with Boris in the Davis Cup, or whatever, how does that affect you? Do you concentrate more? Do you talk to yourself more?

A. There's nothing -- you know, just experience helps. I've been in this situation before. You know, you just try to get off to a good start and hopefully you can put the crowd out of the match. But, you know, you've still got to play. It's still one on one. So I think Tim knows that. It's just going to be us two playing. He's going to have some emotional support behind him, but, you know, you have to play, and I feel like I'm playing well, and that's really, you know, what I'm trying to do, just play well.

Q. Will you still be practising with him tomorrow?

A. I don't think so. I think we'll take a day off from each other.

Q. Would you describe yourself as friends? How close are you?

A. Yes, I've got to know Tim pretty well over the past couple of years, just a good solid guy, and I practise with him a bunch, and I don't think we will be too close on Friday, but that's what it's all about. You have friends on the tour but, you know, you just leave it on the court, you know, you don't obviously take these matches personally, and just go out and play the match.

Q. When was the last time you took practice with him?

A. Let's see, probably three or four days ago.

Q. At that time, was there any kind of talk of what may be?

A. No.

Q. Have you and Mark ever talked about your Greek origins, swapped stories?

A. No, not really, no. I think we would make a pretty good Davis Cup team. We have Greek passports.

Q. So you're going to pull a Rusedski, you're moving to Athens?

A. No, it's not a big tournament out there.

Q. Just on Mark, you said he has the talent and the ability. What is he lacking at the moment to take that next step up?

A. I've always felt with Mark's game, he's very powerful, and I played him a couple of times in the past couple of years, and if he maybe toned it down a little bit -- he goes for the big second serves, takes a big cut on the return, and sometimes you have to keep the ball in play. He goes for a lot, and if I gave him some advice, I would tell him to tone it down a little bit, don't hit the ball that hard. You know, it's just the way he plays. That makes him very dangerous, but when he's not on, it's a pretty tough day for him. But it happened in Australia a couple of years ago when he was on fire and he was devastating to play. So, you know -- but in order to be consistent and have good results week in, week out, you need to find a certain, you know, kind of -- it's got to be really controlled aggression and with Mark, sometimes I think he goes for a little bit too much. But he also can be very dangerous.

Q. How do you see the other semi-final between Goran and Krajicek and, if you have been watching, who do you think is having the best tournament so far?

A. They both seem like they're going along pretty smooth. With those guys serving as big as they do, I mean, it's going to come down to probably a tie-breaker or two, and it's going to come down to a couple of points. It depends who's returning better and who's putting the pressure on the other guy. Krajicek winning here, and Goran, it seems like he's pretty hungry this year, and his mind's there, so it's pretty much a toss-up to see who's going to win that.

Q. Pete, the ATP announced today new changes which will be implemented in the year 2000, including a new ranking system based on the calendar year, which if it were in place now, I guess Marcelo would be number 1. Do you have any thoughts about that, about the changes to the ranking and the other ones?

A. Yes, I think to have a race is a little bit easier to follow. The way the ranking system works now, I mean, you know, it depends on the timing of your points. To have a race and whoever has the most points at the end of the year is number 1, I think that's the simplest way for everyone in here to understand it, for the fans to understand, is just to have a race, and I really commend Mark, what he's trying to do, trying to get a lot of the big tournaments, having everyone play and being committed to those Super 9 tournaments is good for the game. To have all the top guys at all the events can only be positive.

Q. As you just indicated, you've had good feelings about the ATP championships in Germany, but now they're going to be rotating them around the world, according to the press announcement. Do you like that idea?

A. You know, I didn't know that, but what I will say is that the championships in Germany, I mean, the crowds are phenomenal, some of the best crowds I've ever played in front of, and the German people love their tennis, but, I mean, sometimes you feel like tennis needs a little continuity, needs to, you know -- it seems like after the US Open, you know, people always ask me if I'm playing the Grand Slam for the big money. It gets confusing sometimes. To rotate it, you know, I don't know how great that's going to be. But, you know, I haven't really heard too much about that.  

Q. Pete, with Goran and you and Tim and Krajicek, you know, as the four left, is it really all about serving here and who serves the best?

A. Yes, that helps. But in order to win Wimbledon, you have to return and, you know, everyone talks about the serve, but the return of serve is the shot that's going to get you to the final. You know, we all know that. Sure, it's nice to serve two or three aces a game, but you win Wimbledon through your second serve and your return of serve; pretty simple.

Q. On the men's side, in this tournament particularly, things have gone pretty much according to routine, and there haven't really been that many memorable matches. Do you think that your match-up against Henman will maybe ignite a little bit of excitement?

A. Yes, definitely it's going to be exciting to be out there, and I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be fun. I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully we can play at a high level, so it's worthy of a good final -- I mean, a good semi-final.

Q. You don't really seem to have been extended yet. Do you feel you still have plenty in the tank?

A. Yes, it's going to be good to have a day off tomorrow to give the body a rest. I've gone through, you know, playing today. I wasn't in much control playing Mark, but I got through and I won the important points and that's really the key to grass court tennis. So I have no complaints the way I'm playing. I just hope I can maintain this and even get a little bit better come Friday.

(INTERVIEW CONCLUDED)

Friday, 3rd July 1998
P Sampras bt T Henman 6-3 4-6 7-5 6-3

Q. Pete, how do you think it goes for you today?

A. It was very difficult. Not only was I battling Tim, you know, the crowd was very tough. The key to the match was pretty much the third set. I started off quite well. Second set, he started to really tighten up his game; the crowd got involved. The third set I knew was the key, and, you know, 6-5, you know, I raised my level just a little bit, hit some good shots, and that was really the key to the match. In the fourth set I kind of played a little bit better, but I can't say enough good things about Tim's game. He's a very, very solid player and will eventually, you know, win this tournament one year. He's 23, and he's just going to get better and better as the years go on, and he gained some experience today. It was a very tough match, you know, it was just -- the difference was just a couple of points here and there, and I seemed to get them today.

Q. You seemed out of character, the arguments, the racquet flipped into the crowd. It was like you were upset about a lot of things maybe.

A. No, I was very intense, and you have to be at this level and at this stage in the tournament. You know, sure it was a little bit frustrating for both of us, some of the line calls, the net thing seemed like it was going off pretty consistently, I cracked the racquet and I felt like flinging it into the crowd, and loosened up a little bit. But you know, this is what it's all about, you know, if you're not intense out there, if you're not ready to play -- I felt I was playing Tim and the crowd, so obviously I was going to show a little more emotion than usual, and I did that after the third set.

Q. You didn't get a warning for that, did you?

A. For what?

Q. Flipping the racquet up in the crowd.

A. There's no reason why I should.

Q. Pete, you've had a lot of good matches here, but it seemed like maybe that third set, and parts of the fourth and second, that was awfully high quality. Maybe that little patch there, was that some of the best stuff you've been involved in here, when you consider both yourself and the guy you were playing against?

A. Yes, I thought the level of tennis was very high. The first couple of sets, we both had our moments, but third set, we both tightened up our tennis, just enough, and it really came down to me just raising my level just a little bit at 6-5, and that was really the key to the match, and I knew that, and I think he knew that too, was that third set, but I thought we both played very well, and maybe my experience came through a little bit at the end, but, you know, at this level, I mean, with Tim playing well and playing with a lot of emotion from the crowd, it was tough conditions for me, and so to come through and to win that was a good feeling.

Q. Did he surprise you in anything he did? He had a game point and he hit a forehand return. Can you describe what happened there?

A. At that point, it's always -- as fast as the court is playing, it's all reaction. He went up the middle and I managed to find the ball. That's pretty much it. That was to get it back to deuce. You know, it was really a key game to the match, was that 6-5 game. Going to the tie-breaker, anything was possible. You know, on that point, I just hit a good return and then hit a couple of good shots from there, and there's not really much to say, except you lean a certain way and hopefully you guess right, and I seemed to do that at that time.

Q. Can you tell us what happened on the break?

A. The break point?

Q. Yes.

A. I hit a good return and had a lot of time to hit a backhand pass, and hit a good one, and he was a little late on the volley. Then once -- I felt that was a key part to the match. Once I won that third, but also the first game of the fourth when I was down break point and to come through, that was a big moment. You know, this level, there's not really much that's going to separate Tim and I in the semi-finals. He was playing well, I was playing well, and he's got to go out and play, and we did that, you know. I managed to win this one.

Q. Is there anything about his game today that surprised you, the way he kept up the level with you and stayed with you?

A. I wasn't surprised. You know, I've practised with Tim pretty consistently over the past six months to a couple of years, and he's very good, almost to the point of being a great player, you know, maybe just a little bit more experience. I don't see many holes in his game. I see not too many all-round court players today, and Tim is one of the few guys that has that. He does everything very well. You know, if there's a difference between us today, it was probably our second serves. You know, his second serve probably let him down a little bit, double faulted, and he'll work on that. I know Tim is a person -- he'll work on that and, like I said before, he will break through and win this one year.

Q. Pete, were you surprised that he stayed back as much as he did on his second serve? After you'd broken him those two times in the first set, you seemed on a roll and he started to hang back. Was it hard to adjust to that?

A. Yes, it was a little bit. First set I was on a good rhythm with the second serve and having some pretty good looks at it, and in the second he stayed back and he caught me off guard. I hit a couple of short returns and he changed the strategy and it kind of threw me off a little bit. But it took me a little while to kind of get used to that. In the third set, I finally chip and charged a little bit, and I had a good break point there in the fourth set, and you know, once I saw him staying back I felt I could chip and charge and have some time to come in and hit a few groundies but, you know, it was a smart move on his part staying back there, because he knew I was on top of his second serve, and I think he had to stay back at that point, because I felt like I was having some really good looks at his second serve.

Q. Can you give us a preview of the final with Goran?

A. You know, I played Goran a couple of years ago here in the finals. What can you say? He's got a huge serve. Mentally, he's very strong. I saw the match today and he seemed to hang in there very well. You know, he's going to hit his aces, he's going to hit his double faults. You're going to have to ride the wave with Goran. It's like riding a rollercoaster. He's capable of stringing some unbelievable service games that you can't do much about, that you just need to stay patient with them, hopefully get some second serve looks and just go from there and try to hold on to my serve.

Q. When he lost that third set, did you think that he had lost it and that was it?

A. The third set or fourth set?

Q. Fourth set.

A. It was anyone's ball game at that point. I'd been out there. He had the match won pretty much, and before he knew it, he was in the fifth set and anything is possible at that point. But he mentally hung in there, and that's maybe the difference between Goran this year than a couple of years ago, that mentally he seems pretty strong, it didn't seem like he got down on himself and he ended up winning.

Q. Did you practise with Tim today before the match?

A. No.

Q. How much did you have to raise your game, because you got to this stage fairly comfortably, and hadn't dropped a set? How much did you have to raise your game to beat Tim today?

A. Well, you have to. You have no choice but to go out there very intense and very, you know, keen on winning, and, you know, I knew it was going to be a tough match. I've practised with Tim a bunch and he's beaten me in practice a number of times and he's capable of playing some unbelievable tennis, and I knew what the crowd, and with the emotion from that, it was going to be a very tough task for me to beat him. I had to play at a high level, and, you know, at this point of the tournament, the semi-finals of Wimbledon, you just have to raise it a notch and I seemed to do that pretty well today. But, you know, the key out there was just a few things here and there, my second serve was probably a little bit more consistent than his. But there's very little difference between Tim and I at this point.

Q. Pete, considering the venue, the opponent and the number of big points that you had to play in this match, could this be the best match you've played all year?

A. Well, probably, because my year hasn't been great, but under the circumstances, to come through is pleasing, but I've been in this situation before. You know, I've been in tough crowds, if it's Becker in Germany or some Davis Cup matches, I've had some experience of playing against tough crowds and tough opponents, but up-to-date, up to this point in the year, this is probably my best win. But hopefully I can do it one more time.

Q. Is this the quality of match you had hoped to play earlier this year, when things were not going as well as you hoped?

A. You know, I mean, everyone is, I think, making too big of a deal about this year. At this point last year, it was pretty much the same year, you know, and this is kind of where I kicked it in. You know, the year -- it sure would have been nice to have won at Palm Springs or at Lipton, but it didn't happen, so that's something that really -- sure, it would be nice to win every week, but I'm not going to. I'm going to have my bad days, but I've been pretty consistent since I've been here at Wimbledon, and I certainly hope I can do it one more time.

Q. People already are talking about the great matches you've had in your career and some of the great points you've had. Even though it just happened, do you think you'll look back at that 6-5 game as one of the better games in your career, and could you talk about that?

A. Yes. I mean, I've had a lot of big games in my career, I mean, but this one, sure, it stands out just getting off the court. It was good tennis. I mean, that will stand out, that it was high level tennis, I raised my level just a little bit. There were certain points and certain parts of the match where you have to do that. You have to tighten up your tennis. You know, it was a huge game. That was really the key to the match, was that game and the third set. It just kind of, you know, led to the fourth set, and I was just able to raise it just a little bit.

Q. Pete, how would you describe the form you're in at the moment?

A. Well, the form -- I'm in the finals, so my form has to be pretty good. In fact, I'm playing well, and up to today, you know, this is my toughest match, playing against Tim. You know, it's been a pretty smooth ride, and so, you know, I've no complaints with the way I'm playing.

Q. What do you think about your match tomorrow? Could Goran be third time lucky?

A. It's possible, sure. That's why we're going play it on Sunday.

Q. Pete, do you live for matches like this and days like this against a quality opponent on Centre Court here?

A. Well, the atmosphere was great. I mean, sure, it was tough. I mean, you could definitely feel the crowd playing today, especially in the second set. You know, it's not easy, you know, but this is what it's all about. These are the great matches, and playing someone like Tim, who is a friend and you just go out and play, that's what the game's all about.

Q. How did the hostile crowd affect you today?

A. A little bit in the second. It did. Once he got off to that early break and then he broke me again, and, you know, the crowd -- they were extremely vocal, not rude by any means, but just, you know, obviously very supportive of him. But even though I lost the second set, I felt like I was hitting the ball okay, it was one set all and I thought "Let's just go from here", and that was really what was on my mind.

Q. Do you think the crowd can actually affect your game detrimentally?

A. Yes, it's not easy. If you miss a couple of shots here or there you're going to hear it. So you kind of expect that going into the match.

Q. You've only lost one match here in recent years, going back to when you started winning. Are you a little disappointed that you won't get to play the guy that beat you that one time here?

A. No, I'm not. No. I mean, I'm not disappointed. I play Goran, and he deserves to be there, and that's it.

Q. To prove a point, though, not that you have to, but it's always nice to get -- kind of even the score, isn't it?

A. You know, I don't look at it like that, you know. I look at it as a chance to win Wimbledon on Sunday, you know. If I play Richard or Goran, it really doesn't matter. Richard beat me the last time we played here, but -- it's not personal, you know. Sure, you don't look at it like that, and certainly I don't look at it like that.

Q. Pete, receiving serve on the deuce side, you were really crowding the forehand side, almost inducing Tim to give you a slice backhand return. Did you just feel that that was your best shot of getting a break against him?

A. I'm sorry, I didn't --

Q. You really crowded the forehand side on the deuce court receiving the ball. Did you feel your best shot of breaking him was to get a slice backhand return?

A. I don't get it. I'm fried, to tell you the truth.

(INTERVIEW CONCLUDED)

Sunday, 5th July 1998
P Sampras bt G Ivanisevic 6-7(2) 7-6(9) 6-4 3-6 6-2

Q. Pete, it's five times now. Does it get better with every year?

A. Yes, compared to all the finals I've played this is by far the toughest, but all Wimbledons are very, very sweet. This one -- I didn't think I was quite in control of the match, and Goran was playing huge, and, you know, fifth set, it's really anyone's ball game. So that way it makes it a little bit more special but, you know, at this level, with Goran and I playing the way we do on grass, it's not really much that separates us. It's just a couple of points here and there. The second set tie-breaker was a huge part of the match. You know, I got a little bit lucky, I must admit. I felt I got a little bit lucky out there and raised my level just enough in the fifth set, and before I knew it, I won it. So obviously you never forget the first one but, you know, it's hard to believe that I've won five, and it will hit me I'm sure over the next couple of weeks, it will sink in, and I'll try to enjoy it.

Q. From an historical point of view you've equalled Borg's record now and you're one off Roy Emerson's. Can you put that into words, what that means to you?

A. At this point, it's hard to talk about, but like I said, just coming off the court, it's going to take some time, you know, for it to sink in, but it is a little bit overwhelming to have won five, and be a couple from the record. So it's really hard to talk about. You know, it's a little overwhelming to think of myself in those terms. I've always tried to stay humble through all my accomplishments. You know, it's just hard to believe. Borg's five I thought would never be broken. You know, I think I've got some years left in me, that I can hopefully do this again, but right now I don't want to think about next year, just try to enjoy this as much as possible.

Q. There was a report in a British newspaper this morning that, if you won today, you were going to get engaged. Is there going to be a double celebration?

A. No, no.

Q. Pete, how does it change over the years? I mean, is it the balance between experience, having done it before, and then also carrying the weight of it through the years? Is it easier now? Is it tougher for you now do you feel to get through?

A. Well, I'm probably more nervous for a Wimbledon final than any match that I've played. More than Davis Cup, more than the Open. There's something about this place that is very historic and, you know, I thought Goran and I were nervous. I was nervous, he was nervous. You know, as the match went on, we started to feel a little bit more comfortable, but you never get used to that feeling, you know. You wake up in the morning and you kind of have a pit in your stomach and this is it, you know, you don't want to get to this point and come up short. So fifth set, it's anyone's ball game, and I don't know if it's experience, Goran has been there a couple of times, and, you know, I must admit I did get a little bit lucky today to come through, and that's what it takes sometimes to win any major, a little bit of luck, and it definitely went my way today.

Q. How about that double faulting, what were your feelings when that got away from you?

A. I only had one second serve on a break point, and he missed the return, but it's just a question -- it is just a sign of nerves. I was double faulting and, you know, first set, it comes down to a tie-breaker, and it can go any direction, and, like I said, the second set breaker was really a huge part of the match. You know, there's almost nothing that separates Goran and I, and, you know, at this stage of the tournament, on the court which is playing tough today, you know, it's tough conditions, from both of us, but I managed to raise my level just at the right time, and that's what it takes sometimes.

Q. In the fourth set, when you were broken, with those passing shots, what was going through your mind? On each one, did you --

A. I thought I played some solid points. He hit four great shots, you know. That's too good. That's what was on my mind. Sure, the crowd got behind him, and I knew it was going to go into a fifth set at that point, and I just said, you know, "Don't worry about it, you still have another set to play, try to tighten up your service games", but he was just too good. That was too good a game he played, and, you know -- so you have to kind of accept it and move on, and try to look forward to the next point.

Q. When you say there's almost nothing that separates you, are you kind of surprised that a player of his calibre does not have any Grand Slam titles, or is it something mentally, like how he pulls himself out of a match?

A. I don't think it's mental. I think Goran was pretty mentally strong today. He didn't get upset. In fact, he's going to win this event, I feel. I mean, his game is too big and his serve is too big. He's come close three times now. Sure, it gets a little tougher as the years go on, but I'm sure this one is going to sit with both of us, you know, this match, and I'm sure he's frustrated. I would be frustrated if I was in his shoes. I mean, he's playing well enough to win this thing. You just need a little bit of luck to win any major and he just hasn't seemed to have gotten that in his three finals.

Q. You're only 26. You must be reasonably confident that you can crack Borg's record here.

A. Sure, sure, yes, I mean, I'm -- you know, I feel like I have a lot of good years left in me. This is like the Superbowl. This is what the game is all about to me. So when it comes to next year, I'll hopefully be in good form and try to do this again. But, like I said, I'm not thinking much about next year. I just want to try to enjoy this. But, like I said, it's going to take a little bit of time to sink in, because as a kid when I saw Borg's five, I never thought that I would be in a position to tie it, and it's a little overwhelming to think about it.

Q. In the second set, Pete, in the sixth game, when he hit three aces and a service winner, what was going through your mind? Did you feel he was going to win?

A. No, there's nothing you can do. You just have to stay patient with Goran. He's going to pop his aces. There's nothing you can do. He's too good. So, when he hit those four, it didn't really phase me, you know.

Q. Did you have any words with him other than "Well done"? 

A. Not really.

Q. He was obviously really upset about the loss after the match, and then in here he said it was the worst moment of his life. If you could talk with him, is there anything you would say to Goran?

A. There are times you just don't say anything. What can you say? I mean, bad luck, he doesn't want to hear that. He just probably wants to be, you know, left alone, and I'm sure this match will replay in his mind for months, and, you know, I've lost a couple of Grand Slam finals, and it's the toughest defeat in tennis. You get so far, and you play so well to get there, and there's only one name that gets on that trophy, and it's hard to get over that. But, you know, there's only so much you can say. There's nothing really you can say at this point. It's just "Bad luck", and that's it.

Q. Can you be specific about the certain times, or exactly when you felt you got lucky?

A. The second set breaker. I mean, there was an overrule that went against me, when I thought he double faulted. There was a shot he missed by about an inch. I was down some set points. He hit some second serves. He converts on one of those and it's two sets to love and I'm digging myself a big hole to come back. So, you know, it takes a little luck to win any match, and especially this one in a final. I mean, we're both obviously very nervous, and I just managed to squeak this one out. 

Q. What changed in you after that? You seemed to play better in the third and fourth. Did a weight go off your shoulders and you relax more?

A. A huge weight. I felt the match slipping away in the breaker. I thought, "God, this could be Goran's year". Once I was in the second set, I felt, "Wow, now he's down, I'm a little up", and, you know, I managed to break him there in the third, but I knew the match was far from being over, you know, there was a good chance we were going into the fifth, and, yes, it's a rollercoaster out there. You have some ups and downs, and you just have to stay positive. I mean, playing Goran, you get no rhythm, you don't know what's coming, and you just know a lot of power is coming. So there's nothing you can really do except stay patient.

Q. You've never, I don't think, been in a fifth set in a slam final, is that right?

A. Yes.

Q. How big was it in that fifth set for you, never having been there before? Did it feel different?

A. It did, it felt you don't want to make a mistake. My service -- I felt like I needed to stay solid, and it was kind of -- not up to him, but I just needed to start to return his serve a little bit better. I played two great games to break him, and I was just able to raise my level just enough to break him, and I was leading, it was 5-2, and I prepared myself to serve for the gap and I hit a couple of good returns, and the next thing I knew I won it. That was kind of a weird feeling but, you know, this is what the game is all about, we're two heavy hitters going at it and one of us has to win, and I was fortunate enough today to do that.

Q. Did you sense in the fifth set that he was getting tired? He said for him the semis really hurt him. Did you see any of that in his movement, or lack of movement?

A. I didn't sense it one bit. I didn't feel like his serve was -- I thought his serve was still coming in real big. I didn't really sense him getting tired. I mean, the fifth set of a Wimbledon final, you just have to suck it up as best you can but, I mean, he's played a lot of tennis over the past three or four days. Maybe that took its toll, but I didn't sense him getting tired at all.

Q. Pete, you've got five titles now. How many more at Wimbledon do you feel you can achieve? Can you double it?

A. I'll take them one at a time.

Q. Did you feel you had a big advantage because you started serving in the fifth set, you were always going to be playing ahead if you kept your serve?

A. It's a huge advantage, you know, it's a big mental advantage, always to be a game up, and you know, you feel like if you break him you're up three games, up 5-2, or whatever. It was not a huge part of the match, but it certainly helps to start serving out the fifth.

Q. Did you hear the whisperers coming in, "Sampras isn't having a great year, Sampras is beatable, maybe he's not going to be able to bring the weight he has in the past"? Did you hear a buzz, did you get the sense that there was a buzz about that at all and, if so, did you pay any attention to it and how did you react to it?

A. Sure, you can't avoid it. The year has been a little bit up and down. But, you know, positive or negative press has never really phased me. I know what I'm trying to do, and my goal here was to try to win here, and I wasn't going to let any wasted emotion, you know, overtake that feeling of trying to win here, and, you know, it really doesn't bother me, to tell you the truth. I know what I can do, I know what I've done. You know, you play at a certain level for a number years and you don't play well for three months or four months and people think you're done. It's flattering to be at that standard, that high level, and it's not easy to do that month after month. So it wasn't surprising to hear the talk but, you know, now I guess I'm out of my slump.

Q. You would also have lost your sort of number 1 ranking if you hadn't won today. Was that something that motivated you as well?

A. At this point, it's not about the ranking. It's about the titles, and sure,  it's nice to be number 1 in the middle of the year, but it always comes down to the end of the year. That's when you add them all up and you have your ranking, but this is what it's about. I mean, this is historical, and that's more important than the ranking.

Q. Was there any time in the tournament that you felt, when there had been doubts about yourself, your level was back?

A. Once I got through the first couple of rounds, I felt like I was playing well and, you know, I was cruising along pretty well and beat Philippoussis pretty handily and played well against Tim. I just felt confident. I felt good about my tennis and, you know, I just go out and play and that's -- you know, I don't worry about what other people are saying or writing, or whatever. It's about the tennis to me, and I certainly came through here.

Q. How will you celebrate winning the fifth title?

A. Tonight, I have to go to the dinner, which I'm getting used to, I guess. I've got to get ready for my speech. But, you know, I only have so much time off. I only have three weeks off and I play in LA, so I'll just chill out and enjoy this victory, and I'm not going to pick up a racquet for a little while, and I'm going to play some golf and hang out, and I've been in Europe now for a long while, so it's going to be good to get home.

Q. We have heard talk about the love that Boris has for the court and more recently about Steffi. Could you take a moment because you have a real feel for that court and a love for it.

A. I'm probably more comfortable on this court than any court in the world, with the surroundings, and the ball kids and everything, it just seems like it's comfortable. It's like -- you know, it's like my practice court, and you just get used to it, you know, you just get used to the surroundings. I've played a lot of big matches on that court and, you know, when you're comfortable playing somewhere you're going to play well. I certainly have gotten to that point over the last five or six years.

Q. Pete, looking ahead, what means more to you: beating Borg's record here, or Roy Emerson's record of the most Grand Slams?

A. You know, it's hard to really talk about it now. You know, I just need to enjoy this. You know, I know you guys want to talk about breaking the records but I want to enjoy this right now, and, sure, over the next couple of months, when the US Open comes around, I'll be thinking about, you know, trying to achieve another goal. But, yes, I feel like I've got a lot of good years left in me, that I can do it, you know, and it's a number out there that I feel like I can achieve, but you don't take these titles for granted, you know, you don't expect it just to happen and to break the record overnight. It takes practice and it takes years of playing and so, you know, it's great to be in this position.

Q. Have you started to take any kind of -- things like the champion's dinner and then the tradition here, have you started taking any pleasure out of them and do you enjoy it, or is it part of the job at this point?

A. I think that's one thing that elevates my tennis, is this place, is the court, the historical meaning that this tournament has to me as a kid growing up. That helps my tennis, you know. It's not easy each week you play on the tour to get motivated, and I have no problem getting motivated for this one. So over the years, you know, sure, I've gotten used to this place and used to the championships dinner and, you know, you've just got to enjoy it, you know. The older I get, I want to enjoy these victories as much as I can, and I'm surely going to do that over the next week.

(INTERVIEW CONCLUDED)

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