Sampras Has Can’t-Miss Statement

You play someone 16 times and things are bound to sink in sooner or later. The server made an errant ball toss, caught it and said, “Sorry, mate.” Only, it was Pete Sampras saying the words, not Patrick Rafter.

A tribute, perhaps?

“Yeah, I’ve heard it about 30 times,” Sampras said, smiling. Sorry, mate.

Were they also the fitting words for the last match of Rafter’s Grand Slam career?

The Australian has hinted he may stay away after he takes an extended break after this year. And so, the end for one may be a new beginning for the other.

Inexplicably, and terrifically, the No. 10-seeded Sampras summoned forth his best performance in 2001 by defeating No. 6 Rafter, 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-4, in 2 hours 31 minutes in the fourth round at the U.S. Open before a near-capacity crowd.

It may well have been his best show of sustained excellence since he defeated Rafter in the 2000 Wimbledon final. On Monday, his serve--20 aces--was backed by a crisp backhand and vastly improved movement. The acceleration was evident on match point, and Sampras beamed about it afterward. He was teased about the wind sprints on the beach at Santa Monica finally paying off. Sampras laughed but then made it clear the sprints were responsible.

Match point, which finished with a Sampras smash, was the best exchange of the afternoon. Rafter, who had already saved two match points, came in again and stretched wide for the volley, putting it cross-court. Sampras read the direction, saying: “I just kind of started sprinting down that area, showed some pretty good wheels there. Just wanted to make sure I made it. I was going downwind. After I hit it, I said, ‘I’m coming in.”’

He came in, and then directed a volley into the corner. Rafter, on the run again, retrieved it and put up a lob. Considering Sampras has won Wimbledon titles with barely a nod and the barest of smiles, his expansive reaction after the winning overhead and celebration for the cameras was notable.

“Well, it’s a huge match--playing Pat, who is worthy of a big match, a semi or final here,” Sampras said. “You have to emotionally treat it like a final, at least I did. I’ve got a lot of respect for Pat and his game. I wanted to show some emotion.”

At 30, Sampras had been treated with sympathy, not fear at the Open because he has not won a title in his last 17 tournaments.

That changed after he outplayed Rafter, facing just two break points and never losing serve. He had 60 winners and 14 unforced errors.

“I’m glad it wasn’t 3-2-1 [6-3, 6-2, 6-1] and I got booed off the court,” Rafter said. “That’s not a memorable way to leave a Grand Slam. You know in New York it can happen.”

Rafter, who has won the Open twice, will play Davis Cup and then the indoor circuit this fall in Europe. He is eager to explore a life not dictated by tournament dates and plane schedules. “Just sort of live a life,” he said. “Just see what life is. You live in an unreal world. I just want to touch down a little bit. Maybe I might not like it.”

He has been able to keep a refreshing sense of humor and humility despite his two Open titles and stature.

Rafter said he never wanted to change after he won for the first time here in 1997.

And?

“I think I’m just a top bloke,” he said, smiling.

Sampras paid Rafter his proper due, and should they never play one another, the rivalry will end with Sampras leading it, 12-4. This was their third meeting in a Grand Slam event. They split the first two, with Rafter winning the 1998 U.S. Open semifinal and Sampras the 2000 Wimbledon final.

Of course, this afternoon of renaissance could be quickly forgotten depending on how Sampras does against another rival, No. 2 Andre Agassi. They will meet for the 32nd time, in Wednesday’s quarterfinals, and Agassi has won their last three matches.

Agassi, as he often does, raised the bar for Sampras as he dismantled No. 13 Roger Federer of Switzerland, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. Federer was 0 for 9 on break-point opportunities. “Roger should take it as a big compliment that I played so well today,” Agassi said.

It was Agassi’s sharpest match of the tournament.

“No question about it,” he said. “It was like third gear, then fifth gear. Today I just absolutely stepped it up in every department, and it was there. And you need it to happen that way sometimes. It was just coming off my racket so solid. Every time he hit a big serve and missed it, I felt like I was still on it. Then I would look at the speed gun and realize he was hitting it with some pop.”

Marat Safin, seeded No. 3, defeated Thomas Johansson of Sweden, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3).

The women’s fourth-round matches went according to form. Defending champion and No. 4 Venus Williams appeared to be ailing, but finished strongly, beating No. 18 Sandrine Testud of France, 6-4, 6-0; No. 2 Jennifer Capriati defeated Barbara Schett of Austria, 6-3, 6-3; No. 5 Kim Clijsters of Belgium beat No. 11 Elena Dementieva of Russia, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2; and No. 8 Amelie Mauresmo of France outlasted No. 9 Nathalie Tauizat of France, 6-0, 6-7 (1), 6-3.