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Sampras' rebound garners all attention in semifinals

His best performance since last year's U.S. Open overshadows the Agassi-Hewitt matchup.

By KEITH NIEBUHR, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 7, 2002

NEW YORK -- Because Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt have won a combined nine Grand Slam titles, their meeting today in the semifinals of the U.S. Open usually would merit marquee status.

Not this year.

Instead, the headline grabber is aging legend Pete Sampras, who has stolen the show this week. The 31-year-old's quest for a fifth Open championship and 14th Grand Slam singles title is the talk of the town.

"This is what I play for," Sampras said.

All eyes are on Sampras, who before this event was having a forgettable year. He came to New York with a 2002 record of 20-17, a No. 17 seeding and no tournament titles in 33 events dating to his 2000 Wimbledon triumph. But now his game and confidence are back.

Facing a tough draw, Sampras reached the Open semifinals a ninth time by defeating three seeded players, notably No. 3 Tommy Haas 7-5, 6-4, 6-7, 7-5 in the fourth round and 20-year-old American star Andy Roddick, the 11th seed, in Thursday's quarterfinals 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

"It's just confidence out there," Sampras said. "I'm just going for shots and making them. It's clicking. I've been waiting all year for it to click."

Because of his recent struggles, many had suggested Sampras call it quits. Even Greg Rusedski had harsh words after losing to Sampras in a five-set, third-round match. Rusedski said Sampras had lost a step and predicted he would not win another match at the Open, though Sampras had reached the semifinals in 2000 and 2001 after facing similar questions about his game.

"I've got more important things to talk about than Greg," Sampras said after humbling Roddick in 90 minutes.

Roddick's assessment: "Look at the way he plays at the U.S. Open. He has come in the last two years with people saying, 'What if, what if, what if?' But Pete always backs it up."

Next up for Sampras is 24th-seeded Sjeng Schalken, a Dutchman playing in his first major semifinal. Sampras is 4-0 against Schalken, but the two last played in 1998. Schalken beat three-time French Open champ Gustavo Kuerten in the fourth round and No. 28 Fernando Gonzalez in a five-set thriller Thursday.

"I've got my hands full against Sjeng," Sampras said. "He's an experienced pro, does everything well. I'm focused. I'm not looking ahead at all. I have my work cut out for me (today)."

That goes for Sunday, provided he gets there.

The top-ranked and top-seeded Hewitt has won two of the past four Grand Slam titles and is the defending Open champ; he beat Sampras in the 2001 final for his first major championship. The 32-year-old Agassi, seeded sixth, is a two-time Open winner and might be the best hard-court player ever. Hewitt leads the series 4-2, winning the past three, but this is their first match in a Grand Slam.

Hewitt is playing in his third straight Open semifinal, beating three seeded players. Agassi faced one, No. 32 Max Mirnyi, the only player to take a game from Agassi.

"He's difficult for everybody," Agassi said. "He's No. 1 in the world now, been No. 1 in the world for almost a full year. He's just a tough player. He makes you play good tennis, makes you play a good match, makes you play a great match to beat him."

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