Hey, Patrick Rafter, U.S. Open champion: welcome back to earth.
Pete Sampras, behind a dominant serve that dazed and confused his opponent, defeated Rafter, 6-7 (6-8), 6-1, 6-1, 6-4, and the United States beat Australia, 4-1, in the semifinals of the Davis Cup on Sunday at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Washington.In a later match, rendered meaningless after Sampras' victory, Michael Chang defeated Mark Philippoussis, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-2).
With the victory Sunday, the United States will face Sweden in Goteborg, Sweden, in the Davis Cup finals Nov. 28-30.
"To play the way I played today was very gratifying," Sampras said. "I served very well, and I returned about as well as I could."
Rafter will attest to that. He was feeling pretty good about himself and his game after winning the U.S. Open and rising in the world rankings to No. 3. But Sunday, he got a look at just how far it is from No. 3 to No. 1, where Sampras sits.
"It does bring you down a little," said Rafter, who also lost Friday to Chang. After winning the Open, his first Grand Slam title ever, Rafter has lost to the No. 2 player in the world (Chang) and the No. 1 player (Sampras) in successive matches.
"I still have a bit to go," Rafter said. "That's for sure. I've a lot to learn. This just makes me want to work harder."
After the U.S. took a 2-0 lead with singles victories by Sampras and Chang on Friday, the Australians made it competitive again with a doubles victory on Saturday. Sampras played in that doubles match and lost. He does not like losing big matches.
"It would have been nice to clinch (Saturday)," Sampras said. "But it wasn't meant to be."
Australian captain John Newcombe expected Sampras to be hungry and had this pre-match advice for Rafter:
"Sampras is really going to lift his game."
Sampras left nothing to chance Sunday. He established his serve early, and not once in four sets did Rafter have a break-point opportunity.
"I never had a chance to break him and he was all over my serve," Rafter said.
Sampras' winning percentage on first serve points was a fat 85. He had 14 aces.
"I had a lot of trouble reading his serve," Rafter said. "I had no idea where it was going. I'm more confused now than ever."
That's how good Sampras was. That's how good he is. Sunday's performance by Sampras was one for the best-ever arguments.
Against a quality opponent, Sampras had no trouble establishing the best part of his game, his power. Not only was his serve dominant, but Sampras also sent scorching passing shots past a frustrated Rafter.