Voltchkov Just Glad to Be Here

For six-time champion Pete Sampras, the path to the Wimbledon final has always been predictable.

The last stop, in the semifinals, featured a superb grass-court player as his opposition: Boris Becker (1993), Todd Martin (1994), Goran Ivanisevic (1995), Todd Woodbridge (1997) and Tim Henman the last two years.

Now, standing in his way, is a 22-year-old qualifier from Belarus who is wearing borrowed clothes, staying in a borrowed flat, and if Sampras has his way, is playing on borrowed time.

Vladimir Voltchkov is the first male qualifier to reach the semifinals since John McEnroe in 1977, and it is his first time in the semifinals of any tournament.

The Sampras-Voltchkov semifinal today follows second-seeded Andre Agassi against 12th-seeded Patrick Rafter of Australia, a rematch of one of last year’s semifinals. Agassi, who leads their series, 7-3, defeated Rafter in straight sets before losing to Sampras in the final.

“You hope Andre has one of his bad days,” Rafter said. “I’ve played Andre a few times when he’s had some really bad days. I just hope he has one.”

A lousy day from Sampras is about the only chance Voltchkov has to make an impact.

“We’re talking about probably the greatest player of all time here,” Voltchkov said. “It’s difficult to find any weaknesses. Pete is a kind of player, who, if he’s in a good mood, he can play unbelievable in any part of the game. I just hope to go out there, to play my game good. If it’s good enough to make a competition for him, I’m happy.”

The three marquee players remaining--Sampras, Agassi and Rafter--all have had serious injury problems lately.

After shoulder surgery last year, Rafter struggled so much that he contemplated retirement. Agassi has been plagued by injuries this year, including a back injury when he tumbled on the grass at Queen’s Club last month.

Then there’s the injury-riddled Sampras. Though he has not faced a seeded player, and won’t, unless he reaches the final, he has not been without problems. He hurt his left shin shortly before his second-round match here and has not practiced on days between matches, saying he would not be playing if it were not a Grand Slam tournament.

The recently retired Jim Courier, a longtime peer of Sampras, is impressed.

“If he does go on to win this tournament, in my opinion it will be by far the best effort of his career,” said Courier, an analyst for TNT. “And he’s had many great efforts--to not be able to practice, not able to even warm up for his matches, and still somehow summon up the game to win.

“He says he’s feeling 80%; I say no, 60%. He’s got his serve, but everything else is at about 60% speed. People dream of winning Wimbledon once in their career, and this guy may do it on one leg.”