Sampras: Brilliant But Dull

WIMBLEDON, England -- The British cannot make up their minds. When John McEnroe reigned at Wimbledon, they called him "Superbrat" and pined for the days when the "gentleman's" champion really was one. Now, Pete Sampras, a perfect gentleman and a model of decorum, appears to be marching inexorably toward a second straight Wimbledon title, and the British complain he is too boring.


It is not only his powerful serve-and-volley style that is in question. The tabloids derisively refer to Sampras as "Personality Pete" because of his perceived lack of same. Sampras certainly is aware of his image as a boring player and seems amused by it, but he has not let it affect his behavior. He grew up in the age of bad boys McEnroe and Jimmy Connors, but he watched tapes of Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall and took them as his role models.


"I think the old Aussies did it for me," Sampras said earlier this week when asked about his personal style. "Growing up, I obviously watched the Connors and McEnroes, but the Lavers and Rosewalls were really fun matches to watch. The way they carried themselves and acted on and off the court is something I always admired."


With a smile, he added, "So, I definitely would like to go down as someone who is not boring and who is exciting to watch." Someone who is, in a word, class.


The one subject on which Sampras is outspoken is his desire to be the best in the game. Five matches deep into this Wimbledon, the American, 22, who has been ranked No. 1 since April 12, 1993, clearly is the class of the field.


Sampras has quietly mowed down all opposition. He ran his streak to 15 sets without a loss in a 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 quarterfinal victory over Michael Chang on Wednesday. Only four men in history have won Wimbledon without the loss of a set, the last being Bjorn Borg in 1976.


The total playing time for Sampras' five matches is only 8 hours, 26 minutes, and his won-lost record for games is a dominating 93-49. His semifinal opponent Friday will be sixth-seeded American Todd Martin, who beat South African Wayne Ferreira, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5. Martin actually defeated Sampras in the finals of the Queens Club tournament nearly three weeks ago, but he has played four five-set matches at Wimbledon. Martin has a 15-8 record in sets and a 137-101 record in games, and he has played a total of 15 hours, 34 minutes.


By comparison, Sampras has simply strolled through Wimbledon at his own relaxed pace. He failed to win four straight Grand Slam tournaments when Jim Courier knocked him out in the quarters of the French Open, but several players have acknowledged the gap between Sampras and the field on Wimbledon's fast lawns.


"I think Pete's really reached the peak of his career," said Chang, who has known Sampras since the age of 7 when both were playing junior tennis in California. Chang won their first five matches as pros but now has lost four straight and six of the past seven as Sampras has matured.


"A couple of years ago, I think you could say Pete was weak in quite a few different areas," Chang said. "I was able to beat him mentally, to be honest with you."