They say the best way to pep up an older dog is to put a puppy in his pen. For much of the last two seasons, however, younger players have had their way with Pete Sampras, leaving people to wonder whether he had gone too gray in the muzzle.
Eager retriever Andy Roddick had beaten his one-time idol twice in two tries coming into Thursday night’s U.S. Open quarterfinal. Under the lights in Flushing Meadow, he found himself trapped in a vintage highlight reel.
The 31-year-old Sampras, suddenly re-equipped with all of his old dog’s old tricks, left Roddick chasing his tail in a shockingly easy 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory that propelled him into Saturday’s semifinal against 24th-seeded Sjeng Schalken of the Netherlands.
Although Sampras struggled with his first serves on a windy night, his game had all the hallmarks that had deserted him over the course of a 33-tournament winless streak. His forehand passing shots were low, deep and deadly, his volleys improvisational genius.
His head? Screwed on.
“I don’t think in those terms when I’m playing, like, `I did this five years ago,”‘ said Sampras, who is 20-0 in night matches at Flushing Meadow. “It’s all instinct out there. I play my best when I’m not thinking.
“I feel like when it comes to a big occasion, I still have the goods. . . . I still feel like I can do it out there against anybody. I believe in myself, and that’s the key for me.”
Sampras has won 13 majors and has his sights set on No. 14.
“This is what I play for,” he said. “For me now, it’s all about winning another major.”
Roddick was gracious and philosophical after emerging from Sampras’ high-level clinic.
“I think I’ll have my moment here someday,” said the 11th-seeded Roddick, who lost to eventual Open champion Lleyton Hewitt of Australia last year in the same round. “It’s a learning experience. I’ll try my best to soak it up. . . . I watched what I should be doing on big points. I was on the other side of it.
“I don’t think anybody doubts the fact that he’s capable of great tennis still.”
Roddick was playing with a bruised foot but said it did not affect his performance. The fiery 20-year-old, who loves to play to the crowd, was somewhat subdued Thursday, knowing in advance that the fans’ affection would be divided.
“I didn’t have that many chances to get excited,” he said.
Sampras camped out at the net frequently and mixed up the pace with chips and slices to try to defuse Roddick’s game, which seems to gather momentum with each stroke of a long rally.
It took Sampras only five minutes to assert himself. He broke Roddick’s first service game with a stop volley that found the sideline. That was all he needed in a 27-minute first set.
Roddick didn’t win a point in the third game of the second set, giving it away on a double fault, then sent a forehand into the net for a break to go down 5-2. Time after time he dug for backhands in the corner and hit rock, sometimes letting out an agonized groan.
Sampras grabbed another break to start the third set as Roddick sent another backhand too low.
After match point–yet another perfectly placed volley–the two men gave each other an emphatic high handshake and exchanged an obviously affectionate embrace.
“It’s not fun to be home watching a tournament when you were in it,” Roddick said. “I’m not going to bring out the popcorn and the soda and sit down and watch it, probably.
“I have a lot to build on. That’s what keeps me optimistic on downer days.”
Schalken outdueled 28th-seeded Fernando Gonzalez of Chile in a taut 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-2) match. Sampras, seeded 17th, has beaten Schalken all four times the two have played, but their last match was in 1998.
At one point in the match, a spectator called out, “Andre’s waiting!” That’s not quite accurate, as Andre Agassi will have to get by Hewitt on Saturday to do his part to set up the people’s choice Open final.
“I have my hands full against Sjeng,” Sampras said. “He’s an experienced pro, does everything well. I’m not looking ahead at all.
“I feel like I’m in a good rhythm. I’m just going for my shots and making them. It’s clicking. I’ve been waiting all year for it to click. Now I feel like it’s finally there.”
Guilty plea: A German man pleaded guilty Thursday to stalking Serena Williams. Albrecht Stromeyer, 34, entered the plea to fourth-degree stalking–a misdemeanor–in Criminal Court in Queens. He is expected to be placed in the custody of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Friday’s schedule
All on Arthur Ashe Stadium
– Mixed doubles championship: Katarina Srebotnik, Slovenia, and Bob Bryan, U.S., vs. Lisa Raymond and Mike Bryan (2), U.S.
– Men’s doubles championship: Not before 11:30 a.m.: Jiri Novak and Radek Stepanek (11), Czech Republic, vs. Mahesh Bhupathi, India, and Max Mirnyi (3), Belarus
– Women’s semifinal: Not before 1:45: Amelie Mauresmo (10), France, vs. Venus Williams (2), U.S.
– Women’s semifinal: Not before 3:55: Serena Williams (1), U.S., vs. Lindsay Davenport (4), U.S.
