quote:

Originally posted by luisjb82 You're kidding, right? Players nowadays are far more better than in Sampras days, that's how it's been and that's how it will be. Better coaches, better trainings, much better techniques (except for Nadal lolz) not to mention way better preparation. That's how the world of sports evolves and always will with all these new medicines, better foods, better equipment too... You can't compare two players from different eras, because it's rather unfair for the older player... The only way to compare them is based on numbers and how they performed against their competition at the time, and truth is Sampras wasn't as dominant as Federer is right now, not even close. I've watched tennis matches and archives from the early 90's, those great games in those days, performances from Sampras, Edberg, Agassi, Chang, Rafter, etc etc and last nite Federer in my opinion played the best match I have ever watched, it was so unreal I just couldn't believe it.

federer's shot making is much better than sampras'. sampras' strength was serve and volley. federer's passing shots would've been difficult for sampras to deal with i think, even at his best.

^+1...i think it a fact that Sampras is American and certain peoples won't believe that Federer will surpass Sampras and become more complete and greater of a player. Federer will win this year French Open to prove all critics who still doesn't believe he will be the greatest player in the game.

___________________
Vancity

quote:

Originally posted by SolemnThirsty ^+1...i think it a fact that Sampras is American and certain peoples won't believe that Federer will surpass Sampras and become more complete and greater of a player. Federer will win this year French Open to prove all critics who still doesn't believe he will be the greatest player in the game.

Sampras being American has NOTHING to do with what I think of him. I think a match between him and Federer (both at their prime) would be great to see but obviously that won't happen, in fact I think Federer beat him at Wimbledon once. Federer is the undisputed #1 player in the world and there is no denying his greatness. I heard a Sampras interview and he believes Federer will surpass what he did and win like 17 majors. My point was that Sampras was also great and I have confidence he could find a way to beat Federer; Nadal has done it a number of times and if he can do it so can Sampras.

^also in that interview, Sampras said that Federer didn't have any "real" challenge like when he played, I think Sampras is scared that his records is going down. To making things fair, let put the prime Federer and the prime Sampras on clay court, their "worst" surface. My money is on Federer to win 9 of 10 matchs against Sampras on a clay court. The good old day of service and volley is gone.

___________________
Vancity

quote:

Originally posted by SolemnThirsty ^also in that interview, Sampras said that Federer didn't have any "real" challenge like when he played, I think Sampras is scared that his records is going down. To making things fair, let put the prime Federer and the prime Sampras on clay court, their "worst" surface. My money is on Federer to win 9 of 10 matchs against Sampras on a clay court. The good old day of service and volley is gone.

who in the men's game can even challenge federer right now? no one. it's not federer's fault.

quote:

Originally posted by SolemnThirsty ^also in that interview, Sampras said that Federer didn't have any "real" challenge like when he played, I think Sampras is scared that his records is going down. To making things fair, let put the prime Federer and the prime Sampras on clay court, their "worst" surface. My money is on Federer to win 9 of 10 matchs against Sampras on a clay court. The good old day of service and volley is gone.

Hm clay is difficult, I too think Federer would have an advantage but 90% is a bit high. As for Sampras being scared, what he said about Federer not having any real challenges is absolutely true; he is so dominant it is boring watching him play in the early rounds of tournaments...not his fault though. I truly respect the guy and his tennis game.

Federer vs. Gonzalez in the final.

quote:

Originally posted by chi6me8ra in fact I think Federer beat him at Wimbledon once.

Yes, that was what stopped Sampras's streak at Wimbledon.
Sampras won 7 of 8 Wimbledons, so it woulda been 8 straight....

quote:

My point was that Sampras was also great and I have confidence he could find a way to beat Federer; Nadal has done it a number of times and if he can do it so can Sampras.

Of all the times Nadal beat him, ALL were on clay except for one, which was on a hardcourt.
Your argument is then not as strong, cause Nadal found a way only once.
So i cant agree with you.

my prediction. federer in 4. the set he loses will be in a tiebreak because he'll feel sorry for gonzalez

Federer may become historic if he manages to win the game in 3 straight sets because he still hasn't lost a set and the closest someone came was Robredo and Djokovic.

This man is a human machine, I still can't believe how good he actually is.

Gonzalez is pretty good though Interesting player

Gonzalez will be served (pun intended) in 3. Federer might sweep the Grand Slams this year if Nadal continues to slip like he has.

and YES I think Nadal is his only real "challenge" in todays game.