Lord of the decade ready for 2000

Though dethroned from the World Number 1 post, the best man on a tennis court this decade knows he’s ready to pick up a rzcquet in just a few weeks, in the new millennium Down Under in Australia.

But first things first. “I’m obviously looking forward to some time off,” said Sampras, adding: “and to next year in Australia.”

Last week at the Expo 2000 hall was as uncertain for Sampras, whose major worry wasfitness after so long away. Testing himself again after missing the US Open seemed more than worthwhile.

“The reason I came here was to look at the big picture I didn’t really feel like taking four months off and not playing any matches going into Australia,” he said.

“I felt that I needed to play and play among the best players in the world. I enjoy the game and I miss playing, all of those reasons are why I came here.”

Though he’s just gone through an unwanted period of unforced leisure, Sampras says he will manage a bit more relaxation before getting down to winning.

The American who now owns 61 career titles, said that once the idea that he would not earn year-end number 1 for a record seventh year sank in, he was already looking ahead. “I came in here relaxed and whatever happened, happened.”

That was in marked contrast to 12 months ago, when mentally wornout after nearly two months on the trot in Europe he slumped through to the last weekend in Hanover before losing a semi-final instraight sets to Spain’s Alex Corretja, the eventual champion. “Last year at this time, I was stressing unbelievably hard, trying to break the record (six straight year-end Number 1 finishes),” he admitted. “This year, it’s been a lot easier.”

Sampras said that during his time at home in California over the autumn, he tried some new things after a decade of life in tennis. “I had some fun with my time off, did some things I haven’t done. My focus wasn’t just on tennis and training."