GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE ATP CHAMPIONSHIP

August 7, 1997

Pete Sampras

JOE LYNCH: First question for Pete who moves into the quarterfinals and who will play Yevgeny Kafelnikov tomorrow.

PETE SAMPRAS: I don't think there is -- if anything, it was a little bit of luck, I mean, the first set I got a number of breakpoints. He was serving very, very well and holding serve pretty easy. One of those matches where I just got a little bit lucky and hung in there. I wasn't playing all that well in the first set. And, couple of shots here and there in the tiebreaker I got and that is really the difference. It could have gone either way. It is nothing really specifically I can say that was the difference. It was just a little bit of luck I had on my side today.

PETE SAMPRAS: I am talking about as far as the match today. I mean -- yeah.

PETE SAMPRAS: I really don't know. Mentally hanging in there. Maybe hit that smart shot at the right time. But I can't -- there is nothing I really think of. I just try to play the point as best I can and hopefully convert on a big point. And, you know, I have done that pretty well over the past number of years, and, you know, there is nothing really that I do differently. I just -- I play the smart point. That is all I am trying to do.

PETE SAMPRAS: No, it is not fair because I don't care where I am playing in the world. There is a lot of pride out there and I wouldn't be where I am today if I didn't try. I mean, I try every week. That doesn't mean I am going to win every week. You know, it is not easy week-in and week-out to put up good results and against these players, like a Rafter, who is a very tough guy to play and anything is really possible out there on the court as quick as we are playing here. So, I try to win every week I play. That is kind of, you know, that is what got me to this level, is mentally treating each week like it's an important week. And, obviously, I base my tournaments around the Grand Slams through really -- where I really want to peak, but I want to win here at Cincy and Indy next week.

PETE SAMPRAS: I thought I played pretty well. I have gotten to the -- I don't know what I have done here. I know I have won. But you kind of -- I mean, coming here seven, eight years, so the court is pretty quick here which is okay. And, for instance, Indianapolis the court is a little bit slower which I kind of like a little bit better and that is maybe why I have won there more than here. Usually Cincinnati is my first tournament back from Wimbledon, so you may be not as quite as match tough. So, I thought I have always played pretty well here, but not great.

PETE SAMPRAS: Well, it makes a little bit easier on everybody, but one thing I really try to do after Wimbledon was obviously take the rest. But, for the past couple of weeks I have been training pretty hard in the heat, getting used to the humidity. It was 95 degrees every day in Tampa. So, I made a concerted effort to practice and training out there and the stuff I do. It is just ironic the year I felt I was in pretty in good shape here, it's been pretty cool. I am sure maybe next week, the week of Indianapolis, I am sure it will warp up.

PETE SAMPRAS: I think players feel that if I am playing well and I am confident that it is going to be a tough match for them. On the other hand, guys I may have nothing to lose, I am the one -- they are shooting from the hip, you know, swinging away. It is always tough to play guys like that week-in and week-out. But I feel like if I am playing well, I am pretty tough to beat.

PETE SAMPRAS: I feel pretty good. I feel like my form is pretty good. He is obviously playing well. He has got a great all-around court game. Does everything pretty well. Has had a pretty good hard season. It will be a tough match. It will be a good test to see how I am playing. It will be a different match from today. I will have a little more time as far as hitting some more balls. Today was pretty much hit-or-miss tennis. But, I am looking forward to it. It will be a good match.

PETE SAMPRAS: You know, I have won a lot of matches throughout my career just on reputation alone, just the fact that I am No. 1, guys might get a little tight serving for the match or strange things happen out there that, you know, it definitely has its benefits. But, like I said, you know, everyone comes out with nothing to lose, so it also makes it a little bit difficult.

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