WIMBLEDON, July 7: There HAVE been accusations to the effect that Pete Sampras' single-minded approach to the game has come at the expense of his personal life. But the man himself denies that. By annexing his fourth Wimbledon trophy, he became the fourth most successful player in the event since the grasscourt tournament was first played in 1877 and is now within two titles of emulating Roy Emerson's all-time record of 12 Grand Slams.Sampras, who has won every major except the French Open, joined Bill Tilden as the fourth most successful player in Grand Slams and now trails only his idol Australia's Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg of Sweden who have 11 titles and Emerson with 12.

Following are the excerpts from Sampras' meeting with the media after the final:

Q: Can you describe what if feels like to play that well on such a major occasion?

A: Well, the day off yesterday, it helped me physically, but mentally you start thinking about the match. At 2.00 you get a little bit nervous, more nervous than any match you have played in your career. That's the final of Wimbledon really for me. You walk out into the baseline, you look across the net. It's the same court you grew up playing on, so you can't get overwhelmed by the situation. Once the first point starts, you just kind of get into the routine that you have done for so many years. That's one thing I was really pleased with. The pressure was on me because I was the favourite and to come through and play extremely well for most of the match.

Q: You have equalled Laver, one of your heroes, as the number of Wimbledons won. How does that feel?

A: It hasn't really hit me yet. I'm sure when I get home and take a couple of weeks off, it will settle in. To have won ten, it just makes me feel that 12 is something that's so much more realistic, that I can break the record. To be put into the same sentence as Laver, you can't have a more flattering comparison. So this is what's important to me.

Q: Your win today was a tremendous accomplishment, but were you surprised in any way at how easy it was today and the whole tournament?

A: Well, the Becker match was a big match for me. I mean, that was one that I feared the most because it was his last Wimbledon (as announced by Becker later on) and with the support he got from the crowd and the way he's played on grass, it was a big match for me. Today, with all the pressure that comes with being in the final, I thought I handled it well and Cedric missed a couple of shots here and there. The situation might have got to him in the beginning. I felt he was missing some easy shots. But this is what it's all about to me the majors and it's one thing that's going to keep me going and playing and competing.

Q: How much fear do you think you feel these days when you play tennis? You used the word `fear' before with Becker?

A: I really have no fear in the game. I feel like if I'm playing well I'm tough to beat. I feel like I've got some options there. I can stay back or come in and to serve as well as I have these past couple of weeks, I'm going to be tough to beat.

Q: Is history a bigger rival for you than anybody you play against?A: I don't think of myself in terms of history. I think that I'm doing quite well for how old I am, and it's something that's been asked from you guys (about history). I don't look at myself in those terms. I feel I'm still in the middle of my career and it's not over yet. Now, I'm battling against all these guys, not history that's something above everyone.

Q: Have you got to a period at all when you've either got overfatigued, or a little bored or a little disillusioned with the game and its demands and all that?

A: Well, there are times when you are tired. But when it comes to a major, I don't feel that way at all, because this is an opportunity to win another one and what is important to me as a tennis player, are the major tournaments. You play these other tournaments to really get yourself ready for the major tournaments.

Q: How many Wimbledons would you trade for one French title?

A: Not many. The French is the one that's giving me the most problems and this year wasn't great. But, for one, I was happy I got over what happened at the French to get ready for this one, and when the clay court season comes around the next year, I'll be thinking about it. French is the one that has given me the problems. So it's a challenge for me to play well there.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.