Sampras Family Just Goes With Davis Cup Experience

Two things might have happened after that nail-biting weekend known as the Davis Cup quarterfinals against the Czech Republic in Los Angeles:

* Sam and Georgia Sampras, after one of their rare appearances, might have given up attending their son’s matches.

* Sam and Georgia might have considered increasing their attendance, traveling to more Davis Cup matches and other major events, the Grand Slams.

Pete Sampras is happy to report that the latter is more likely than the former.

His father, Sam--who, remember, was game enough to book a trip to Zimbabwe and receive the necessary shots before Pete’s hip injury--has jumped aboard for the Davis Cup semifinals against host Spain at Santander, July 21-23.

Now about the hallowed grounds of the All England Club in late June and early July. . . .

“I would love for them to come and I don’t know if they will come for the two weeks or maybe if I make the final,” said Sampras, who has won Wimbledon six times, including the last three.

“But I definitely have expressed that I want them there and just to be part of the tournament, which has been a big part of my career. And I think Davis Cup was a pretty nerve-racking situation for them and they sat through the whole thing.”

This year may yield something special on the grass. Sampras could move past Roy Emerson and become the all-time leader in Grand Slam singles titles. That, however, seems less an obsession than merely a matter of time.

“At least I can tell them at Wimbledon--I’ve won there a few times so it’s not the end of the world if I don’t win there,” he said. “I’d love for them to hop on a plane and come on over and check it out and be a part of it.

“We’re going to see what happens this year, but my dad has already made reservations to go to Spain for the Davis Cup. But Wimbledon is a little bit up in the air.”

NO ROMAN HOLIDAY

Sampras, not surprisingly, pulled out of this week’s Tennis Masters Series in Rome, formerly known as the Italian Open.

From the way he was limping in the decisive match of the Davis Cup quarterfinals last month, it was clear he would be out for at least a few weeks. Why risk playing in Barcelona or Orlando or Rome with more important events looming?

The decision became easier when he still felt tenderness in his left thigh and was unable to play sets.

“I could maybe go to Rome, but I am probably going to be risking it and would obviously much rather be 100% than 95%,” he said.

His clay-court season may start at the Tennis Masters Series in Hamburg, Germany, later this month, followed by the ATP World Team Championships in Dusseldorf, Germany.

“Hopefully by the French [Open], I will be playing my best tennis,” he said. “But I just need to play well, and the courts at Paris can be quick, the conditions can be quick. I’ve just got to let go of the pressure I put on myself and just play like I would be playing at the other Grand Slams.”

The only other top player who won’t be in Rome is Nicolas Kiefer of Germany, out because of an ankle injury. Todd Martin, 1999 U.S. Open finalist playing in his first tournament since the Australian Open in January, no doubt was less than thrilled with his first-round match Monday. Reigning U.S. Open champion Andre Agassi beat him, 6-2, 7-6 (4).

MASTERS UNCERTAINTY

Brazilian newspapers recently reported that there are problems getting a facility in Sao Paulo ready in time for the new season-ending Tennis Masters Cup in 2001. The season-ending tournament for the men will be played this year for the first time, at Lisbon, Portugal, in late November and early December.

Evidently, a temporary facility could be used for the 2001 tournament in Brazil, but organizers and the ATP may want to wait until a permanent structure is ready in 2002. A final decision on Sao Paulo is expected during the French Open.

Los Angeles has expressed interest in hosting the event in 2001. It makes sense for a variety of reasons, among them, the success of the Davis Cup last month and the popularity of Sampras and Agassi. The thinking is to take advantage of their drawing power here while they are still at the top of their games.

Staples Center President Tim Leiweke told The Times that he is pursuing the event.

“We’re going to take a run at it,” he said. “The only problem with that thing is that it is in November. And that’s not good for us.”

That is a crowded period of the schedule for Staples. Leiweke noted that Staples is holding the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in early 2002 and could end up getting the 2002 NHL All-Star game.

“So we’ll have the two biggest [Winter Olympic] sports in the building--with the best stars--headed to Salt Lake. That would be the priority.”

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Staff writer Dave McKibben contributed to this column.