Sampras’ Hopes Slammed Stomach Flu Puts End To Hopes Of Elusive French Open Prize
The French Open jinx continues for Pete Sampras.
Every spring, Sampras comes to Paris searching for the one title missing from his Grand Slam collection. Every year, he goes away empty.
This time, it was a stomach bug that ruined his chances for a Grand Slam sweep.
Weak and sluggish, the top-seeded American got off to a horrible start and bowed out in the third round Friday to Sweden’s Magnus Norman, who celebrated his 21st birthday, with a 6-2, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory.
“It seems like there’s always something that comes up,” Sampras said. “Obviously, it’s been a continued struggle for me to win here. It’s not going to be easy. I feel there are a lot of years left in my career to break through here. It wasn’t meant to be this year.”
The 65th-ranked Norman, who had never won a Grand Slam match until this tournament, said beating Sampras was the perfect birthday present.
“When I woke up this morning, I was dreaming about it,” he said. “I was thinking, ‘How about beating Pete Sampras on my 21st birthday?’ I never thought it was going to be true.”
Sampras was one of three big names eliminated Friday after a relatively uneventful first four days at Roland Garros.
Fifth-seeded Thomas Muster, the 1995 champion, was ousted 6-7 (7-3), 6-1, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 by Brazil’s Gustavo Kuerten. And women’s No.4 Jana Novotna lost 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to American doubles specialist Nicole Arendt.
Sampras has won nine Grand Slam titles - four U.S. Opens, three Wimbledons and two Australian Opens - but has yet to reach the final of the French.
“I’ve got to try to deal with this loss,” he said. “I’ve lost at Slams before. It will take me some time to get over it. Fortunately, in a couple weeks there’s Wimbledon to get ready for.”
Winning the French has become nearly an obsession for Sampras, who would like to ensure his place in history by becoming the first player since Rod Laver to win all four Slams during his career.
It was obvious from the start that Sampras was ailing. Walking slowly, head bowed, he had a hard time keeping the ball in the court. He dropped the first set in 39 minutes, then went up 4-1 in the second, only to lose six straight games to fall two sets down.
MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Today on TV Noon: French Open, tape (NBC)