Is this the Changing of the Guard?

Sampras vs. Roddick: Let the match begin

By Sandra Harwitt
tennisreporters.net

Susan Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

FROM THE U.S. OPEN – Pete Sampras vs. Andy Roddick. The hype is heightened and the anticipation is augmented at the U.S. Open now that the fantasy quarterfinal has become a reality.

But for all those who are viewing the Thursday night thriller as the very spot where the torch might be passed from Pete Sampras to Andy Roddick – the former best American player passes the honor on to the new best American player – Sampras says hold on a second. In the record 13-time Grand Slam champions’ mind – win or lose – this match will not confirm any significant fact that big.

“No, not one match,” said Sampras, when asked whether this could signify Roddick’s ceremonial takeover. “Accumulation of years will do that. We know Andy is the future.”

For the 20-year-old Roddick the opportunity to face Sampras at the U.S. Open, where he won his first Grand Slam trophy as a 19-year-old in ’90, will mark a special occasion. While Roddick has no Open titles to Sampras’s four, nor any Grand Slam titles to 13 for Sampras, he believes taking on the superstar in his own “house” is great fortune.

“I’m excited about the prospect of playing Pete in the quarterfinal,” said Roddick, into his second consecutive Open quarterfinal. “I mean, it’s a dream come true for me. Quarterfinal. U.S. Open. I’m assuming it will be a nighttime match. That’s what you play for. That’s what you put in the work for, is matches like that.”|

CAN SAMPRAS WIN JUST ONE AGAINST A-ROD?
As for Sampras, who has fallen to Roddick 7-6 6-3 on both occasions, they’ve played at the ’01 Miami tournament and ’02 Houston event, he’s hoping to get lucky and change his success ratio against the younger American star.

“I hope it’s a nightmare for him,” said Sampras, when told that Roddick described their quarterfinal as a dream come true. “He is the future of the game, especially in the U.S. He’s got a big game, a lot of power. It’s kind of an older veteran playing against the young guy. So it’s a good match up. I’m looking forward to it.”

There’s no denying after posting a disappointing year that would be considered by many to have been a humiliating experience for Sampras, he has come into his own during this Open. Interestingly, it is the second consecutive year that Sampras has regrouped to find his form at the Open, having gone all the way to the final last year where fatigue put him at the wrong end of 7-6, 6-1, 6-1 decision against Lleyton Hewitt.

“This is the U.S. Open,” Sampras said, explaining his remarkable revival. “You dig deep. You do whatever you can to win. It’s confidence. It’s being comfortable. It’s getting into kind of a rhythm. I haven’t really felt like I’ve settled into the year. this past week and a half, I feel like I have kind of go my game going. I’m comfortable playing here, the conditions. This is our Super Bowl. I’m pretty pumped, ready to go.”

Despite his confidence level on the up-and-up at this tournament, Sampras freely admits that the days of owning the tour – of ending six consecutive years at No. 1 – are over. But, on occasion, he can put together some impressive results as he’s done here thus far, defeating Greg Rusedski in five sets in the third round and third-seeded Tommy Haas in a four-set fourth round win.

“I think the days of me dominating are over, but I still feel I have a major in me,” Sampras said. “I’m going to give it my best shot here.”

While Roddick has had his way with the Great One both times they’ve played, this meeting could be different. Besides the fact that Roddick is currently bothered with a foot problem, he will be facing Sampras at a Grand Slam for the first time, and in a marquee night match to boot. Roddick enjoys playing the crowd, but playing the crowd against Sampras could be an animal of a different kind.

THE POWER OF YOUTH
Certainly, Roddick possesses more firepower than Sampras, although they both can count the serve as their big weapon. But Sampras, if his game is on, can diffuse the Roddick power by mixing up his shots and taking the 20-year-old out of his game.
Sampras knows that Roddick has improved greatly the past year and is well aware of the challenge ahead.

“He’s a little more well-rounded,” Sampras said of Roddick. “His serve is devastating, especially, the power that he gets. You know, his second serve is huge. He’s go a lot of heat. He moves well, is competitive. He’s got all those intangibles to be a great player.”

And there is the element of adoration that could come into the picture, although Roddick has pretty much managed to idolize his idols off-court and play them tough on-court.

“It’s a match between two players,” said Roddick, describing the upcoming quarterfinal. “It’s a quarterfinal match. We’re from the same country, from kind of generations that are overlapping. Obviously, it’s going to make for a nice story.

“I’m excited. I grew up idolizing him. I have a great deal of respect for Pete and what he’s done. I don’t think anybody here doesn’t respect what he’s done. It will be very, very special moment for me out there. But, you know, having said that, I want to go out there and I want to play some ball.”

At stake – a first career Grand Slam semifinal berth for Roddick and possibly a last chance at a Grand Slam title for Sampras.

Let’s play ball.