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Just another day Sampras wins opener in straight sets
Posted: Tuesday June 27, 2000 01:49 AM
LONDON (Reuters) -- Pete Sampras enjoyed a gentle work-out on Centre Court to start the defense of his Wimbledon title, beating the Czech Republic's Jiri Vanek 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 on Monday. The six-time champion, bidding to win a record 13th Grand Slam title, broke the 22-year-old Wimbledon debutant's serve in the first game of the first set and never looked back. "It's always nice to be back on that court. It's comfortable surroundings for me -- a comfortable court that I obviously over the years have grown to love," Sampras said. Sampras's normally reliable volley looked a little rusty at times, but his huge serve and booming forehand were too much for the hapless Vanek, who had never played a senior match on grass before. "It was pretty good. I served well. I didn't hit the ball that great from the back court, but on your first match out there you're always a bit unsettled," top seed Sampras said. The 28-year-old American slipped several times on the fresh grass of Centre Court but said he was feeling fit for the tournament. "It was very green," he said. "It was very tough to move out there," he said. "You expect that on the first day on Centre Court, though," he added. "No matter what the conditions are. I feel like I'm playing well. Hopefully I can get my game going this week." It was a cruel Wimbledon initiation for Vanek who was left in no doubt that Sampras' game was functioning perfectly well. The champion slammed down 15 aces and was forced to deuce on only one service game. In return he broke Vanek in the ninth game of the second set and in the third and seventh games of the third to coast home in an hour 23 minutes. Sampras said he was not thinking about beating Roy Emerson's Grand Slam record yet. "There's a lot of time to think about the record books or history that you're going to make. Maybe if I get to the final or to the weekend that's the time to think about it. "You can't get consumed with records."
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