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Davis Cup Journal: Day 4 
A Triumph for Sampras, Agassi, and the US Team

by John Yandell

The more you see Pete Sampras off the court, the more you have to admire him. Yes, he redeemed himself by winning the fifth match to give the US a come from behind win over the underdog Czech Republic. Yes, his level of performance and emotional energy were much higher than in his loss to Juri Novak in his first match. But that doesn’t really tell the story. Who knows why Pete is suffering a stream of injuries in the last year, but at 1-1 in the first set today he went running wide for a forehand, and after hitting a winner to break serve, he pulled up hobbling. I mean it looked bad. He actually limped through the first set and still won, mainly because of his phenomenal serving. 

 “It’s the kind of serve I dream about having,” John McEnroe said in the press conference, and you could tell he was sincere. “It’s the best serve in the history of tennis.  A few guys hit it harder. But he can mix the power with placement and spin. And he’s got every shot in the game to back it up.” 

Who wouldn’t want that serve? Not to mention the rest of his game. Here’s this guy who has absolutely dominated for 10 years with these great classic strokes. I still haven’t figured out why you see all the extreme grips and loopy topspin in high level junior tennis, but that’s the way it is. Pete’s Czech opponent Slava Dosedel managed only 5 points on Pete’s first serve the whole day. He had 3 break points and never converted. 

“I was so down in the dumps after Friday,” Pete explained. “I just wanted to redeem myself and play with energy and intensity. It was a great day.”

“I got into a great rhythm on my serve,” Pete explained. “My arm felt nice and loose. I felt I could hit my second serve as big as my first, and if I double faulted come right back (That only happened twice). ”

And how bad was the injury? After the press conference I saw Pete coming down the hall in the Forum. I was shocked. He was literally dragging his left leg behind him. It was taped up with a giant ice bag and he could hardly walk, but he was grinning ear to ear. No matter what people think or write in the paper, Davis Cup means something to Pete Sampras. After seeing him almost unable to walk after the match, I really saw how much that match had meant to him and how much he had sacrificed to win it. 

A reporter asked him if he had considered quitting after getting hurt. “John would have choked me,” Pete replied, laughing. Now he’s got the reporters all laughing too. “John’s words were a huge inspiration: suck it up so we can get out of here in about 45 minutes.”  That one made everyone in the pressroom break up, including McEnroe. I find it interesting how a little success can smooth over the antagonism between the team and the press. 

 “I was so down in the dumps after Friday,” Pete explained. “I just wanted to redeem myself and play with energy and intensity. It was a great day.” 

Turned out his mom and dad had been there to watch the first match. And they were there today to see Pete turn it around. He gave his dad a big hug afterwards. This guy is truly the All-American role model. He should be a god in the press—if the press really respected and lauded the values it says it does. The reality is he’s not controversial enough to get the big attention. 

Here’s Pete on his parents: “They raised me the right way. I want them to be a part of my tennis. And they haven’t been. My goal is to bring them to Wimbledon. Today was a great moment for my dad. I’m sure my dad is going to Spain.” 

You can tell he and John like and respect each other. They both seem a little shy with each other. They both try compliment the other and say some pretty witty things. At the same time, you note them glancing back and forth to make sure the other one is taking it the right way. 

Here’s John on Pete: “He did what he needed to do and what he wanted to do. In the warm-up he had some thump on his ball. His ball just sounded like a big, big ball. I think that intimidated Dosedel.” 

And what did he think when Pete hurt his quad: “My heart temporarily stopped.” Mac is smiling and the press is laughing. 

Here’s Pete on John: “It was all the coaching.” and he flashes that sardonic smile. And about the injury? “I just wanted John to sweat a little bit. When I told him I hurt my leg”—and again he’s got that smile that shows he’s teasing John—“I just looked at John and saw he wanted no part of it.” Everyone is laughing and it’s like a wave of good feeling going over the room. Then Pete turns more serious: “John knows what it’s like to feel nervous. And I was nervous. He told me, move your feet, you move slower when you’re nervous. He just provided a focus and an intensity. It was a tremendous help.” 

Then Pete says something else interesting about himself and the strength of  his mental game: “When you start, the nerves just go away and you play. He’s a good player (meaning Dosedel). But bottom line, my ability is better than his. Today I just needed to remember who I am and play my tennis.”           

Maybe it’s the beginning of a beautiful partnership between the two of them and Andre.  And while we’re handing out compliments, let’s not forget Andre, because he saved both their butts. Pete closed out the day, but Andre started by dismantling Juri Novak, the guy who made Pete look bad. Tennis is a funny sport. The chronic underachiever, Andre Agassi, criticized on USA Network for tanking at the French a couple of years ago by none other than Johnny Mac, then comes back to win that event and is now the work ethic role model holding the team together. 

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