Pete Sampras saved his Grand Slam season
and delivered a birthday tribute to a beloved
friend by beating longtime rival Michael
Chang in straight sets to defend his US Open
title.
Sampras, who nearly collapsed on court
during a fifth-set tie-breaker in the
quarter-finals, was at the top of his game in
the final in claiming a 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(7-3)
victory for his fourth Open crown and eighth
Grand Slam championship.
The win was worth US$600,000 to Sampras,
who extended his streak to four successive
seasons with at least one Grand Slam title on
what would have been the 45th birthday of
coach and mentor Tim Gullikson, who died this
spring of brain cancer.
The top-seeded Sampras also retained his
world number one status in fighting off the
pesky second-seeded Chang, who would have
leapfrogged him in the rankings with a
victory.
"It definitely saved my year,"
said Sampras.
Earlier, Steffi Graf also confirmed her
top seeding by beating Monica Seles 7-5, 6-4
to successfully defend her title.
Sampras' powerhouse serve carried him past
Chang. But his groundstrokes also had their
familiar zing, unlike the form he showed in
his painful struggle against unseeded
Spaniard Alex Corretja in the quarters.
Sampras said Gullikson was also on his
mind.
"Today was Tim's birthday. He
would've been 45 today. I was thinking about
him a lot all day," he said. "I
still feel his spirit. I wouldn't be here
without him."
Sampras had his seven broken only once by
Chang as he beat him for the ninth time in
their last 10 meetings to extend his lead in
their personal series to 11-7.
For Sampras it was a booming start,
setting the tone with his first swing of the
racquet with a sizzling 201km/h service
winner.
"I played my best tennis of the
entire tournament against Michael," said
Sampras.
"The first two sets I played as well
as I could, I got off to a great start. It
really set the tone."
I'll be back, says beaten but unbowed
Chang
Irrepressible Michael Chang delivered a
parting message to Pete Sampras after losing
to his longtime rival in the US Open final.
"I've seen a heck of a lot of Pete in
the juniors since we were eight years old,
and whether he likes it or not he is going to
be seeing a heck of a lot of me until his
career is over," said Chang, who first
played Sampras 17 years ago in California.
The pair have carried on their rivalry in
the pros, and Sampras' 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
win to defend his Open title was his ninth
win over Chang in their past 10 matches.
Despite holding the upper hand now,
25-year-old Sampras knows that Chang will
never give up the fight.
"Michael earns his wins and makes his
living fighting, and this is his
character," said Sampras. "That is
what makes him a champion and he will be
around for the next five, six, seven, 10
years."
"Chang began his meteoric rise in
1989, becoming, at the French Open, the
youngest men's Grand Slam champion. He has
now moved up a place in the world rankings to
number two
behind Sampras.
Articles
supplied by Ida Tang
NEW YORK - Pete Sampras was in a hurry to
win his fourth U.S. Open championship. While
workers were still drying the Louis Armstrong
Stadium Court from a downpour following the
women's final, Sampras began warming up.
The top-seeded Sampras continued the
accelerated pace in the final, mopping up No.
2 seed Michael Chang, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), in
just under two hours yesterday.
Playing in his first U.S. Open final,
Chang picked the wrong day to try to dethrone
Sampras.
``I played one of the best matches of my
career,'' Sampras said.
The fans who waited through the 2-1/2-hour
rain delay to see the last match on the
National Tennis Center's Louis Armstrong
Stadium Court didn't get much reward for
their patience. With Sampras dictating most
points, the men's final was decided in
straight sets for the fifth time in the last
seven years.
``Ah, it's over,'' a relieved Sampras said
as he sat down for the postmatch interview.
``This definitely saved my year. The first
two sets, I played about as well as I
could.''
With the win, the world's No. 1-ranked
player avoided a shutout in the Grand Slam
tournaments this year. Sampras's difficult
season has included the death in May of his
coach and friend, Tim Gullickson, and a
gut-wrenching, five-set victory over Spain's
Alex Corretja in the U.S. Open quarterfinals.
Yesterday was Gullickson's birthday. He
would have been 45.
``I've been thinking about him all day and
all during the match, about things he told
me,'' Sampras said. ``I still feel his
spirit. He is still very much in my heart.''
Chang, also an Australian Open finalist
this year, entered the final with the best
summer hardcourt record on the ATP Tour:
22-2. Sampras was third, 13-1. In the Open
semifinals, Sampras defeated No. 4 seed Goran
Ivanisevic, 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (7-9), 6-3; Chang
dismissed a curiously listless Andre Agassi,
the No. 6 seed, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
Chang's best chance to extend the match
and deprive Sampras of his eighth Grand Slam
title occurred in the third set. With Chang
ahead, 6-5, and Sampras serving, the
defending champion faced set point. But a
half-volley by Chang clipped the net cord and
bounced back. On his third game point,
Sampras lashed a backhand winner down the
line.
In the tiebreaker, Sampras seized a 6-2
lead. Chang saved the first championship
point, but on the one he hit a return long.
Sampras raised both arms skyward, then tossed
his racket into the stands behind the
baseline.
Chang, who is deeply religious, wasn't
crushed by the loss. He said he will continue
to pursue Sampras because ``the Lord has His
timing for everything.''
Sampras, 25, has a different perspective.
``I have never been a big believer in fate or
destiny,'' Sampras said. ``I just feel you go
out and play and win.''
The final was a continuation of a rivalry
that began in junior tennis in California
when they were 8 years old. Sampras has won
nine of the last 10 meetings with Chang, but
there was a time when the player known as
``the Roadrunner'' tormented Sampras.
Although Chang has improved his serve,
Sampras still has the bigger serve and more
weapons.
Said Chang: ``I wanted to dictate a little
better (but) I had quite a few unforced
errors. Pete wasn't pressing me. Maybe I was
trying to press him too much.''
Chang's major problem was Sampras, who was
in ``the zone,'' where everything he did
worked.
``It was a great start. Everything was
just clicking,'' Sampras said. ``Those are
days you just dream about, especially in a
final.''
Sampras sees more Grand Slam conquests
ahead.
``The title is so much more important to
me than the (No. 1) ranking,'' he said. ``The
fact that I have won a number of (Grand Slam
events) over the past three or four years,
the more I want to win them.''
OPEN ENDERS
By winning, Pete Sampras matches John
McEnroe's four U.S. Opens. He is one behind
Jimmy Connors . . . In 1978, the first year
the Open was played at the National Tennis
Center, Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert each
collected $38,000 for winning the singles
titles. Yesterday, Sampras and Steffi Graf
each won $600,000.
(c) 1996, Philadelphia Daily News.
Distributed by Knight-Ridder/Tribune
Information Services.
BACK TO TOP
New York (Sept 9, 1996)-- They came up
together through the junior ranks in Southern
California, three wildly different
personalities, bonded only in their
reputation as the hottest kids around.
Some 15 years later, not a whole lot has
changed. They're the best America has to
offer, three separate continents on the
tennis globe. Andre Agassi is a seeker of
eternal coolness. Michael Chang puts
everything behind family and religion.
Pete Sampras is mostly into winning.
They were comparing Sampras to the greats
of modern tennis yesterday after his 6-1,
6-4, 7-6 (7-3) victory over Chang in the
final of the U.S. Open. With his eighth Grand
Slam title, he blew past John McEnroe and
drew even with Jimmy Connors, Fred Perry,
Ivan Lendl and Ken Rosewall (Roy Emerson is
the all-time leader with 12). That's Sampras'
thing. The other guys might fancy a place in
history; Sampras lives, dreams and breathes
it.
This was his fourth U.S. Open title and
his second straight, but somehow, it was
absolutely vital to his status in the game.
After he defeated Agassi so impressively in
last year's Open final, Tennis Magazine said
Sampras ``need never again remind us of how
good he is.'' But that really wasn't true. We
did need a reminder. More importantly, so did
Sampras.
``I hadn't won a Slam this year and that's
my whole thing,'' said Sampras. ``It's not
like my career would be over if I lost today,
but this really saves my year.''
Instead of wondering if he'd ever get over
the weighty burdens of his life -- the death
of good friend Vitas Gerulaitis, the passing
of coach Tim Gullikson, the constant
questions about his physical conditioning --
Sampras is back on top, the undisputed No. 1
player in the world. They're throwing out
names like Tilden, Budge, Laver and Borg when
they talk about Sampras now, because he's
just 25 years old and thoroughly obsessed
with winning.
``The more I play, the more I want the
Slams,'' he said. ``It's not the money, it's
not the commercials. It's the titles. That's
what I'll be remembered for, and I think
about that a lot.''
Sampras probably thought he'd see Agassi,
his old buddy, in yesterday's final, which
was delayed 2 1/2 hours by an afternoon
thunderstorm. Instead there was Chang, who
dispatched an oddly spiritless Agassi during
Saturday's semifinals. Just another ancient
rivalry, Pete figured; he first met Chang
when the two were 7 and 8 years old.
``That goes so far back, you wouldn't
recognize Pete,'' said Chang. ``I was taller
than he was.''
Neither man can remember who won that
first match in a 10- and-under regional in
Poway (outside San Diego), but Sampras
remembers the rest. He remembers being
dominated by Chang as he made the transition
from two- handed baseliner to a one-handed
serve-and-volleyer. He remembers going 1-6
against Chang in the pros, including a
straight-set thrashing in the first round of
the 1989 French Open -- Chang's only Grand
Slam title, as it turns out.
As the years went on, Sampras became a
championship player in the mold of his idol,
Rod Laver. Chang didn't really change much.
He embraced religion, used every opportunity
to ``praise the Lord'' in his press
conferences and signed every autograph,
``Jesus loves you -- Michael Chang.'' But he
was still the quickest, most determined
player Sampras had ever seen. Even yesterday,
with eight wins in his last nine matches
against Chang, Sampras felt a little nervous,
like every fighter who ever stepped in
against Joe Frazier.
It turned into a rout, more thorough than
anyone could have imagined. Sampras
steamrolled through the first set and closed
it out with a two-point resume of his
ability. First came a delicate, cross- court
touch volley, picked off his ankles with the
backhand, a shot that kissed the net and
dropped quietly to the ground. Then came a
blistering ace. Touch and power. A vintage
slice of Sampras.
In the second set, Sampras scored a
critical service break for 5-4 when Chang
netted a backhand approach at 30-40. Then he
served it out, clinching the set when a Chang
forehand sailed long.
This was becoming pure validation for
Sampras. Validation of his incredible
quarterfinal victory against Alex Corretja, a
match that now becomes part of a championship
run. Validation of his skills, and his
dedication to Tim Gullikson's memory.
``This is one of the best matches I've
played in my career,'' said Sampras. ``It was
one of those you dream about, where
everything's clicking. A couple of times I
stopped to thank Tim for all he taught me.''
Chang, true to his soul, gave it a mighty
run. If his forehand hadn't caught the
net-cord in the 12th game, sitting up so
Sampras could unload a cross-court hammer,
Chang might have won the third set outright.
Instead, there was a tiebreaker. There were
massive forehand winners from Sampras, and
finally a Chang service return that went
long.
``I believe everything happens for a
reason, and I'll never count myself out,''
said Chang. ``Pete's been No. 1 pretty much
for three years, but I'm No. 2 now. I have to
stay positive. Hopefully, I'm the next in
line.''
For Sampras, it's more Slams than McEnroe.
Tied with Connors. The titles are stacking up
like the poker chips of a red-hot card shark.
And that's just how he likes it.
BACK TO TOP
PETE SAMPRAS: It's over.
Q. So, has the crash of '96 ended?
PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, this definitely saved
my year. I mean, first two sets today I
thought I played about as well as I could.
Got off to a great start. Set the tone. What
can I say? I mean, these past two weeks I
have played my share of great tennis and poor
tennis and got through the Corretja match and
I never thought I would be here as the
winner. But I thought hard and played the
best match of the tournament today against
Michael, and so it really saves my year. It
really does. It wasn't a bad year, but this
will definitely make the rest of the '96
season very enjoyable to play.
Q. Matchpoint, you put your arms in
the air and you looked to the sky. What were
you thinking at that point, Pete?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, today is Tim's
birthday. He would have been 45 today and I
was thinking about him all day today and all
during the match and things he told me to do
on the court and I still felt his spirit and
even though he is not with us, he is still
very much in my heart and I wouldn't be here
if it wasn't for his help and it was nice. I
saw Tom when I was holding up the trophy and
that was a nice moment. So, I am just glad it
is over. I really -- just didn't really feel
like playing another set.
Q. What are one or two things that Tim
would have said to you or you thought about
before going on?
PETE SAMPRAS: He has always thought, as
far as technically on the court, playing
Michael, really set the tone. His second
serve is attackable and return and smack some
forehands because it is one of my best shots.
That is something he would have told me. He
seen him play for so many years that he
knows. I still remember things he has told
me, so that would be one thing that he would
have said.
Q. When you beat Corretja, did you at
that point say this is meant to be?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I thought it could
have meant to be at the French, but we all
know what happened there. I don't know.
Whatever happened, happened. Against
Ivanisevic, I felt -- I had a day off after
Corretja -- maybe this was meant to be. I
don't know. I mean, I have never been a big
believer in fate or destiny. I just feel you
go out and play and win. That is it. This
year has been very difficult at times on and
off the court and this really leaves a very
happy thought and some really good memories
here.
Q. When you won in 1990, you said you
were barely conscious. What was happening?
How is it different this time?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, 1990 I really - I
really couldn't appreciate what it takes to
win a major. I was just kind of playing on
instinct and kind of in a zone for the past
couple of matches. In 1990 and now over the
course of the years, I know what it takes to
win majors. You need to play great tennis.
You need a little bit of luck on your side
and back then, it was kind of like a fantasy,
the way I played, kind of a dream world and
now it takes a lot of hard work and
dedication and after Wimbledon and it paid
off.
Q. You came out so strong today, did
you feel you were in a zone or...
PETE SAMPRAS: I felt -- yeah, I felt a
little bit. When I got off, it was a great
start. My serve was there, everything was
just clicking. Those are days you just dream
about, especially in a final and I knew he
would come around and start playing better
and he did in the third set. He served a lot
better and made it tight and I played real
solid tiebreaker, hit some good shots and it
was one of my best matches I played in my
career. I mean, Michael the way he played
against Andre, I knew it was going to be a
tough battle.
Q. Did you play more different -- kind
or beat more different kinds of games in this
tournament than in others; you beat Chang's
kind of game, Ivanisevic's game?
PETE SAMPRAS: You know, it is hard to say.
Each, you know, it is such a contrast playing
yesterday against Goran. You don't know what
he is going to do; what he is going to serve.
Michael, you kind of know what to expect. He
is going to be -- stay back. It is a huge
contrast. I have played some Majors where I
have had a lot of different styles of
players, Corretja who stayed back and played
kind of a clay court match. You just have to
adapt and I did that well today.
Q. You look back at the history
head-to-head with Michael which match do you
think turned that around for you --
PETE SAMPRAS: I can't remember. I don't
know. I don't know. I mean, there was a time
where four, five years ago, I was having a
lot of trouble against Michael. He was
beating me a number of times. I don't know
where I beat him. I eventually started
getting a hold of his game and playing better
and beat him last four, five times.
Q. Eight or nine?
PETE SAMPRAS: Eight or nine.
Q. Is this win sweet enough for you to
forget all of your losses this year?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, the losses have been
forgotten for quite a while. You mean what
happened at Wimbledon and the French, it
happened and it is over, and just try to look
ahead, but, you know, my main goal when it is
January 1 is to win a major title, and this
is my last chance to do it and I did it. So,
in a lot of ways, I didn't feel like there
was a lot of pressure that my career was over
after this if I didn't win it, but I'd say it
is a great way to end.
Q. Was there a risk that you might
have been putting too much pressure on
yourself?
PETE SAMPRAS: Not really. The overall
picture, I am only 25 and it is not like this
is it for me. I mean, I am going to have many
more Majors ahead of me and, you know,
eventually work hard enough, you are going to
win some, and this one is - was the most
difficult. I think I have won because of the
way I felt physically against Corretja and
just past couple of months - this is sweet.
Q. Are you proud of yourself right
now?
PETE SAMPRAS: I am, even though, I am
pretty stoic. I was in the back with all the
boys and real happy, and I am pumped, I
really am. I felt -- I just was so glad that
shot was out on matchpoint. I just wanted it
to be over, you know, Michael, he doesn't
give you an inch. He really doesn't. Always
fights to the end and I am pumped. I am
really happy.
Q. What is the schedule for the rest
of the year?
PETE SAMPRAS: I have a couple of weeks off
and I play some events over in Europe, Basel
and Paris and Stuttgart and ATP Finals in
Hannover and -- over in Europe I will be
playing.
Q. Four events?
PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, about four or five
events.
Q. Does the fact that Michael is so
stubborn make winning this that much better,
that you had - that he challenged you; didn't
lay down at any point?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I don't think anyone
would lay down at this situation, whoever I
played in the final. I mean, everyone -
whoever I would play today, if it was Andre,
wouldn't have laid down, but Michael
especially, is a feisty player. He is so
competitive and wouldn't give me a point. He
is a very tough guy to beat. He makes you
earn every point you win, so, you know, it is
a rivalry that I have had since we were
seven, eight years old growing up in
California. I battled with him through the
juniors and pros, and, you know, we both have
come along way from the junior days and it is
a rivalry that will continue, I believe. I
mean, he is obviously a great player.
Q. Would it surprise you that he was
just in here and he said a couple of things,
one, that you are a lot older than he is - (
audience laughter)?
PETE SAMPRAS: A lot taller too.
Q. Right (audience laughter) He said
that he is not going away; that he will be
pursuing you for a long time. Does that
surprise you?
PETE SAMPRAS: That doesn't surprise me at
all. Michael earns his wins and makes his
living fighting and fighting and fighting and
that is his character. That is what makes him
a champion and he will be around for the next
five, six, seven-- ten years. So he is -- all
the guys, Courier, Agassi, Martin -- just go
down the list, Michael is going to be one of
those guys that is going to be threatening to
take the top spot and win major titles.
Q. What makes you a champion? You said
that is what makes Michael a champion?
PETE SAMPRAS: I feel like I can do some
things, you know, I can my serve and I can
stay back and hit the forehand pretty well. I
feel like, you know, I have got a pretty good
all-around court game. If things aren't
working well in one area, I can rely on
something else. I don't know. I mean, that is
something I really don't think about.
Q. Nothing just technical?
PETE SAMPRAS:
Q. Anything other than technical?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I don't know, I will
let you guys conclude that.
Q. You look at your contemporaries and
Michael talked about this a little bit
growing up and Jim and Andre and David and
him and you, yet you are the guy who has got
the lion's share of the titles now. Who,
going back to those junior years, who is the
guy you thought was like really going to be
the big player if anyone?
PETE SAMPRAS: All of them. I mean, I
always felt Michael and Andre, especially
Andre when he was growing up in the juniors
by far, of the other guys, he was the most
talented; just a matter of him putting it
together and Michael -- I didn't know Michael
was going to win the French. I thought maybe
at such a young age and I think the fact that
we had each other to play against and the
competition, you know, it really made us
better players. We grew up together battling,
but I would have to say, you know, all those
guys you mentioned, I expected to be in the
top 10, top 20 and -- but it was a good
rivalry.
Q. Do you think no matter what happens
this year you are pretty much No. 1 on the
year; you can relax?
PETE SAMPRAS: At this point the ranking
can just -- you know, playing today the
ranking was up for grabs and I wanted the
title. The title is so much more important to
me than the ranking. You know, so whatever
happens the rest of the year, if I am ended
No. 2 or No. 3, I have achieved what I wanted
to achieve this year and that was to win a
major and so that is it.
Q. Michael was saying that there is
always a lucky shot somewhere along the way.
He cited Becker's net cord against Rostagno
in 1989. Would you put it down to that second
serve ace?
PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, that was against
Corretja?
Q. Yeah.
PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, that was the single
shot that I don't know where that came from.
I think it came from the man upstairs.
Q. Tim?
PETE SAMPRAS: Tim. Came from Tim. That
shot, I will never forget and the reaction of
the crowd was awesome. I will never forget
those moments when I really could feel the
crowd chanting my name Pete and to win, that
was awesome. You know, just decided I really
didn't want to play the point. I wanted to
hit a wide side and it went a lot better than
I thought it would.
Q. Understanding that you have been
concentrating on winning the title, have you
started to get a feel for how intrigued
people were with that Corretja match? They
are still talking about it.
PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, I purposely, the day
after the match, I didn't come out to the
site. I didn't really -- unfortunately for
you guys -- didn't want to talk about it
because I wanted to prepare for Goran, but,
you know, everyone has been talking about it
and just with the crowd and the vomiting and
all that stuff, I guess it was dramatic
(audience laughter).
Q. That is a word.
PETE SAMPRAS: So I don't know what to say,
I mean, maybe over the next couple of years I
will reflect on and see the tape of the match
and appreciate it a little bit more than I do
now.
Q. Today you came out a half an hour
before the match began; hit some balls before
the squeegees were even put away. Were you
chomping at the bit before you got going and
did that help you get such a good start?
PETE SAMPRAS: I got down to the referee's
room. I always do that before the match. I
was sitting there 2, 3 hours watching the
ballgame. You are cooped up all day not
really doing anything, it is good to get out
and get some fresh air; hit some balls; move
around, kind of break a little sweat. I did
that. I don't know if it helped me get off to
a great start, but I will do it again if it
works.
Q. How many Grand Slams have you won?
PETE SAMPRAS: You should know that.
Q. I do.
PETE SAMPRAS: Eight.
Q. Do you know who is next? I'd like
to get as many as I can. I'd like to be on
the list.
PETE SAMPRAS: Yeah, that I think the fact
that I have won a number of them over the
past three or four years, the more I want to
win them. The other titles are nice, but when
it is all and said and done, you look at your
career, these matches are going to stand out,
the match against Agassi is going to stand
out last year and all the Majors that I have
won so far will stand out. It is not the
money. It is not the commercials. The titles,
that is what I will be remembered for and I
will think about that a lot.
Q. Since you are so far ahead of your
contemporaries in your Grand Slam titles, is
it the old guys that are your real
competition?
PETE SAMPRAS: No, everyone is competition.
Q. Is the French looming before you
since it is the one major you haven't won?
PETE SAMPRAS: I rather not talk about the
French (audience laughter) Yeah, I have
thought about it, but once it comes around
next year, I will prepare a little bit better
than I did this year and now I know I can win
there with the players I beat there and a
surface I feel that I can play well on. I
just need a little bit of luck on my side and
hopefully one day I can win it. You know, it
is in my thoughts, but I don't think about it
a lot.
Q. Is the quarterfinal or the win
tonight, in your own mind, is your winning
last year a special moment --
PETE SAMPRAS: I do not think you can put
the one over the other. I mean, last year was
a huge moment for Andre and myself. He was
the hottest player on the Tour and so much
media hype and, you know, a lot of pressure
at stake and they are both huge matches, you
can't put one over the other. I think this
one I got through some tough matches against
Novak and Corretja, maybe this could be a
little sweeter, but they are all big.
Q. Why does one basketball team always
win 120 to 118, it seems that there is a will
factor involved?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, I don't know if it is
so much a will. I think it is the game. I
think it is the guy you are playing. I feel
like my game matches up pretty well against
Michael. I can serve well. I can rally with
him, and Michael pretty much has to do what
he does best, that is, stay back and grind
and come in when he has to. The thing against
Michael if you are not playing well, if you
are not serving well, it is a tough day. That
is, but if I am playing well, I will be
dominating and setting the tone, then I
believe the match will go my way, so you
know, when it comes to a fifth set, you know,
then it comes down to will and heart and
fortunately we didn't have to go through
that.
Q. You talked about the crowd Thursday
night. Today it seemed a little bit dead, you
were waving the racket actually for the fans
to get up and cheer. Had you ever had to do
that before?
PETE SAMPRAS: Well, the first couple of
sets were smooth and they were trying to get
Michael into the match and I could feel the
crowd trying to spur him on and I just -- I
am also American, so (audience laughter) but
I think the crowd wanted to see more tennis,
I could understand that. It was a very long
day for everyone and -- but that tiebreaker
was a big moment.
Q. Do you feel like you have the
mental, physical and emotional stamina to
play at this level and pay the price you pay
for another three to five years, say?
PETE SAMPRAS: With some rest and good
schedule I believe I can. There is no reason
why I can't continue to work hard and even
though it is an emotional grind, I do have
some time off to regroup; get the batteries
charged up again and, you know, prepare my
schedule for the Majors and go from there. So
I don't see there is no reason why I can't
continue to play at this level and contend
for major titles and continue to work hard.
End of
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