BNP PARIBAS OPEN INDIAN WELLS DAY 4
Not Much Love Between Sampras, Agassi in Hit For Haiti
Davydnenko Downs Gulbis, Nadal, Through; Isner to Meet Querrey

By Matthew Cronin

SATURDAY, MARCH 13 - The 'Hit for Haiti' controversy lives on, and the only two people who can accurately say whether they how angry at each other during the exo are Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras, and neither spoke to the press after the match. Sampras was said to be pissed, Agassi was said to be put off. Roger Federer was said to be none too pleased either. Spaniard Rafa Nadal was all but oblivious to what was being said, as he said that they were talking too fast for him to comprehend.

“I didn't understand nothing. No, that's the truth. They speak very fast for me. you understand what they said. I didn't understand. I don't feel I didn't feel any tension.”



Malcolm Tamm Love was lost.The video of the exo with Sampras and Roger Federer against Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal is all the rage on the internet, and without a doubt, Agassi and Sampras grew angry at each other, forcing grinds to hide an animosity that stems from Agassi’ negative comments about Pete’s personality in his book, which were varied, but which were taken seriously by Sampras. “He chose to be open and honest about a lot of things and that’s his choice, but I was a little surprised he went down that road<’ Sampras said early last month. “But I still like the guy. I think it freaked him out the way I did my thing. It certainly messed with his head the way I maintained my focus. Why can't he understand that when that’s what Borg did, and Federer does, that’s normal to me.”

The two did talk on the phone last month, but Sampras said it was mostly Andre talking and him listening, more or less with the receiver half off his ear. They did not come to a meeting of the minds. Both men have their insecurities, Agassi not thrilled that he’s pigeon-toed and Sampras that he has reputation for being a cheapskate. In his book, Agassi had characterized Sampras as a poor tipper after seeing him give a valet driver a dollar tip at an Italian Indian Wells one year. So Sampras did Agassi’s famous walk and then Agassi pulled out his pockets to imitate Sampras and said. "'I don't have any money... Oh, wait, I have a dollar.'"Sampras responded, "You got personal. Agassi replied, “No, no. Everyone knows already.” Sampras then fired a serve toward Agassi. Federer appeared uncomfortable and was said to think that both went overboard, and he tried to break the tension by joking to Nadal, "Wow, this rivalry's intense."
The energy in the stadium disappeared.

Sampras and Agassi hugged at net when the match was over and Sampras said in the post-match interview.

“It got tense with Andre, but I want to say I love you. I have no animosity toward you.” Unfortunately, the incident overshadowed the fundraiser and both men should have taken it down a notch. But their rivalry still simmers and while it may not be of the McEnroe –Connors variety yet, it’s not warm and cuddly either. Neither man likes to be disrespected and Sampras feels like he has been. As mature as both men have become in some ways, they acted like little boys on Friday night. It’s hard to imagine them every being close and really, they never have been. Just take Andre’s word for it, at least on those days that’s he’s being truthful, or understanding the meaning of truth, or meaning to tell the truth, and not just doing it for show.

Mal Tamm Davydenko munched on Gulbis.By the way, Nadal fought through the wind to take 6-4 6-4 victory over Rainer Schuettler. Nadal didn’t attempt to play too aggressively give the conditions, but expect him to crank it up against Mario Ancic in the next round.
"It was a good start in the conditions for me and I'm very happy," Nadal said. "It was difficult to adapt but I start the match playing well. Later, when I was playing in favor of the wind, it was very difficult for me with the backhand because I feel if I only touch the ball, the ball was out. It went too much. I feel really well with the forehand, and that's very important to my game. Maybe I can play better in better conditions with the backhand."
Nikolay Davydenko stopped the surge of Ernests Gulbis 6-4 6-4, but Marin Cilic bombed out 7-6 6-0 to Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, framing balls everywhere. Gulbis is a huge hitter, but he’s not as savvy, quick or sure-handed as the Russian, who has taken down plenty of powerful youngsters before. John Isner won the battle of tall men by besting Kevin Anderson 6-3 7-5, but Ivan Ljubicic stopped US teen Ryan Harrison 6-2 7-6(2). Other winners were Fernando Verdasco, Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain hammered Austrian Daniel Koellerer 6-3 6-0.

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