SheikYerbuti Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 There's been a lot of talk in the last 3 years that Federer is clearly the greatest tennis player of all time, yet in a 3 match exhibition ending today Pete Sampras won one of the matches and was highly competitive in the other 2. It took Federer 2 tiebreakers to win the 2nd match. So, with Sampras a full 10 years past his prime and Federer currently ranked #1 in the world, I think there's a good argument that Sampras in his prime was the better player. And if Sampras came out of retirement today, I wonder if he'd crack the top 10 world rankings in his first season back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theeohiostate Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 It's really amazing no matter how either player sugarcoats it. Sampras also took him to tie breakers in both sets last week. I grew up watching the exit of Lendal and the entrance of Sampras and Andre. It could be that the cometition now isn't what is was in the 90's, but nevertheless, Sampras and Andre will always be the best players I've ever seen. Roger is great, but I bias on the Americans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caveman_Nick Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Andre was always fun to watch. There were a lot of great players from around 1980 until today. Conners, McEnroe, Becker, Llendl, Courier, etc. Federer is terrific. JMO, Sampras in his prime was easily the best of all time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azazello1313 Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 (edited) well...on a fast surface like that, sampras was/is close to unbeatable because you just cannot break him. he has a dominant first serve that he can move wherever he wants, and what separates him from everyone else is how good his second serve is. i would say he is clearly the best server of all time. but i would still have to say federer in his prime is a better all around player than sampras in his. ETA: but hats off to pistol pete for proving he can still do it with the best Edited November 26, 2007 by Azazello1313 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiefjay Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 I hardly believe Federer was trying 100%. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rajncajn Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 JMHO, but Federer would not have been quite as good back in Sampras' day. Federer is an excellent player no doubt, but the competition is just not as good now as it was then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azazello1313 Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 JMHO, but Federer would not have been quite as good back in Sampras' day. Federer is an excellent player no doubt, but the competition is just not as good now as it was then. well, if they played more at the same time, neither would have as many grand slams, mostly because of the other. sampras would have won most of the time on grass, fed most of the time on hardcourts. as far as the opinion that the overall competition was better around 10 years ago than now, i would say this. there were better grass specialists overlapping with sampras' prime (but he still dominated almost everyone he played on grass)...there are a lot better clay court specialists now (if fed was 10 years younger, he'd have a french open title or two by now, easily)....overall maybe a very slight edge to the competition during sampras' prime, but i think that edge might be exaggerated for us because of the lack of good american players now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildcat2334 Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 well, if they played more at the same time, neither would have as many grand slams, mostly because of the other. sampras would have won most of the time on grass, fed most of the time on hardcourts. as far as the opinion that the overall competition was better around 10 years ago than now, i would say this. there were better grass specialists overlapping with sampras' prime (but he still dominated almost everyone he played on grass)...there are a lot better clay court specialists now (if fed was 10 years younger, he'd have a french open title or two by now, easily)....overall maybe a very slight edge to the competition during sampras' prime, but i think that edge might be exaggerated for us because of the lack of good american players now. yeah - tough call, I give Federer the edge over Sampras overall.- and I think when he hangs em up- his career numbers and grand slam titles will be too tough to ignore, and he will go down as the GOAT. I think the way Federer is dominating good players is amazing- I mean, he is pretty much unbeatable on hardcourts, and Roddick, who is very good on hard surfaces has no chance against him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumpin Johnies Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 I've met Pete Sampras twice at Saddlebrook when he was on tour and he's an @ss to say the least. My youngest brother and his friends had the pleasure of meeting him when they were 11. My brother's friend asked Sampras for an autograph and Sampras shoved the little kid to the ground and asked where his "f*cking bodyguards were". This guy was terrible for our sport and he did nothing to help promote it. I hope Federer breaks every record he ever held. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumpin Johnies Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 JMHO, but Federer would not have been quite as good back in Sampras' day. Federer is an excellent player no doubt, but the competition is just not as good now as it was then. They played and Federer beat Sampras. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumpin Johnies Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 http://www.atptennis.com/3/en/players/head...player2=sampras Federer, Roger 1-0 Sampras, Pete 1 8-Aug-81 12-Aug-71 Basel, Switzerland Washington, D.C., USA Oberwil, Switzerland Los Angeles, California, USA 6'1'' (185 cm) 6'1'' (185 cm) 177 lbs (80 kg) 170 lbs (77 kg) Right-handed Right-handed 1998 1988 68/9 0/0 8 0 53 64 $38,707,078 $43,280,489 ATP, Davis Cup and Grand Slam Main Draw Results 2001 Wimbledon England Grass R16 Federer 7-6(7) 5-7 6-4 6-7(2) 7-5 Stats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Loins of Beef Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 I've played a little and still for my money Rod Laver will be forever the best all around tennis player Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azazello1313 Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 I've met Pete Sampras twice at Saddlebrook when he was on tour and he's an @ss to say the least. My youngest brother and his friends had the pleasure of meeting him when they were 11. My brother's friend asked Sampras for an autograph and Sampras shoved the little kid to the ground and asked where his "f*cking bodyguards were". This guy was terrible for our sport and he did nothing to help promote it. I hope Federer breaks every record he ever held. right, but that cheapshot artist o-lineman you knew from UVA is a stand-up guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I Like Soup Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 right, but that cheapshot artist o-lineman you knew from UVA is a stand-up guy. Ease up there, friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclones Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 And if Sampras came out of retirement today, I wonder if he'd crack the top 10 world rankings in his first season back. The endurance factor would get Sampras now. Its one thing to play a guy tight in 3 exhibition games (I doubt Federer was playing those like he would a Wimbledon final) and another to get up for 7 matches in two weeks as is required to win a grand slam. All this said, I have a hard time putting anyone ahead of Sampras on GOAT list. Federer is damn good though. If he keeps this up for 2-3 more years then I'll put him ahead of PP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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