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'A storybook ending' Sampras hints at retirement after fifth U.S. Open winPosted: Sunday September 08, 2002 11:09 PMUpdated: Saturday September 14, 2002 1:04 AM
NEW YORK (Reuters) -- From the moment an unshaven Pete Sampras stepped out of the tunnel onto an electric Arthur Ashe stadium court, he appeared to be soaking up every moment of the U.S. Open final experience -- storing it in his memory banks as if it might be his last. And having defied the odds, age, fatigue and an army of critics to claim an unprecedented 14th career grand slam title with a stirring 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 win over Andre Agassi, the 31-year-old hinted on Sunday that his most unlikely victory could well be the storybook ending to a brilliant career. "I'm going to have to weigh it up over the next couple months to see where I'm at," Sampras said. "I still want to play, I love to play. "But to beat a rival like Andre in a major tournament at the U.S. Open ... a storybook ending, it might be a nice way to stop. "But I still want to compete. I'll see where I'm at in the next couple of months, where my hearts at and my mind. "I feel like all the hard work has paid off. All the adversity this year, I got through it, and that means more to me than anything. "I really don't know where I'm going to go from here. I'm going to take some time to enjoy this and reflect a bit."
Early in the tournament, Greg Rusedski drew the wrath of the American tennis public for saying out loud what everyone had been whispering -- that Sampras was a step-and-a-half slower, no longer the intimidating, dominant force he once was. But despite the furor generated by the Briton's ill-timed comments and an outpouring of support, there were few wandering the Flushing Meadows sprawling grounds as the slam turned into its second week who would have bet Sampras would be standing on centre court on Sunday. Sampras's fifth U.S. Open crown ended an anguishing title drought that had extended back 33 tournaments and two years to the 2000 Wimbledon but did little to defuse speculation about his future in the sport. Even as Sampras's brilliant smile reflected in the trophy he raised to kiss, commentators wonder if it was the last time he might experience the thrill of victory. "I want to stop on my terms," insisted Sampras. "That's one thing I promised myself, even though I was struggling this year and hearing this and that. "I deserve to stop on my own terms, I've done too much in the game to hear the negative things and start believing it ... because I was at the point where I was starting to believe it. "But I still felt like I had one more moment, maybe a couple of more moments, and it happened today." Before arriving at Flushing Meadows, Sampras had gone on record saying he had one remaining goal -- to go out on top by winning one more major. It has also been reported that Sampras has been driven by a desire to allow his actress wife Bridgette Wilson to witness his greatness from the stands first hand. Mission accomplished on both counts. After his victory, Sampras charged into the seething stadium crowd to search out his wife, the two embracing in an emotional hug as over 23,000 spectators applauded. Having endured two difficult years, his first child on the way and people still pushing him toward retirement, the simple desire to compete may no longer be enough to entice Sampras onto the courts. "I wanted to share the moment with my sister and my wife; they're the reason I'm here," said Sampras. "There were moments where I was struggling to continue to play and my wife really supported me and kept me positive and upbeat. That support was huge for me. "She's a big reason I was able to get through this tough period. When you're struggling and not having fun, it's a burden. It just showed that I met the right woman." "I met the woman of my dreams, and now we're going to have a child, and that's what life is all about." Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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