The Official Tennis Thread (6 Viewers)

JCK

Biased
JCK
May 11, 2004
123,225
Same goes to Sampras, he never had anyone to challenge him much at that time but Andrei Agassi.

P.S in Tennis trophies count, not the encounters with this player or that. Federer is on top.
It seems you forgot about Becker, Courrier and other clay specialists that were all obstacles for Sampras throughout his entire career.
 

Azzurri7

Pinturicchio
Moderator
Dec 16, 2003
72,692
It seems you forgot about Becker, Courrier and other clay specialists that were all obstacles for Sampras throughout his entire career.
Becker yes, haven't followed much Courrier. But I don't even agree with the idea of Federer not having a tough competition.

Is it probably because he's too strong for any great random player?
 

Enron

Tickle Me
Moderator
Oct 11, 2005
75,242
Same goes to Sampras, he never had anyone to challenge him much at that time but Andrei Agassi.

P.S in Tennis trophies count, not the encounters with this player or that. Federer is on top.
It's not the same. Sampras had to beat Becker and Agassi throughout his career. Federer has had...

Sure trophies count, but a match against an in prime Agassi or a Becker is much more difficult than beating Hewitt, Roddick, or Djokavic.
 

JCK

Biased
JCK
May 11, 2004
123,225
It's not the same. Sampras had to beat Becker and Agassi throughout his career. Federer has had...

Sure trophies count, but a match against an in prime Agassi or a Beckerman is much more difficult than beating Hewitt, Roddick, or Djokavic.
Exactly.
 
OP
HelterSkelter

HelterSkelter

Senior Member
Apr 15, 2005
19,056
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread Starter #510
    It seems you forgot about Becker, Courrier and other clay specialists that were all obstacles for Sampras throughout his entire career.
    Correct me if im wrong,but Becker and Sampras never faced each other at the French Open.

    Courier and Sampras played each other twice at the French Open,with both winning once.So i dont see how you can say that both players were obstacles for Pete.He was outdone by much lesser players at the French Open.He just couldnt pull it off on Clay.

    Nadal on the other hand,is a true obstacle for Federer.

    Federer can play very well on Clay,and Nadal is the only one stopping him from a much better French Open record.Sure,we all have personal opinions,but Federer is the more complete player compared to Sampras.
     

    Enron

    Tickle Me
    Moderator
    Oct 11, 2005
    75,242
    Correct me if im wrong,but Becker and Sampras never faced each other at the French Open.

    Courier and Sampras played each other twice at the French Open,with both winning once.So i dont see how you can say that both players were obstacles for Pete.He was outdone by much lesser players at the French Open.He just couldnt pull it off on Clay.

    Nadal on the other hand,is a true obstacle for Federer.

    Federer can play very well on Clay,and Nadal is the only one stopping him from a much better French Open record.Sure,we all have personal opinions,but Federer is the more complete player compared to Sampras.
    Sampras sucked on clay. Ask Federer what he thinks about the hard court season.
     

    JCK

    Biased
    JCK
    May 11, 2004
    123,225
    Correct me if im wrong,but Becker and Sampras never faced each other at the French Open.

    Courier and Sampras played each other twice at the French Open,with both winning once.So i dont see how you can say that both players were obstacles for Pete.He was outdone by much lesser players at the French Open.He just couldnt pull it off on Clay.

    Nadal on the other hand,is a true obstacle for Federer.

    Federer can play very well on Clay,and Nadal is the only one stopping him from a much better French Open record.Sure,we all have personal opinions,but Federer is the more complete player compared to Sampras.
    Yes, clay was Sampras' shame and as you said many other small players embarrassed him on such a terrain. Other than that my theory stands.
     

    Azzurri7

    Pinturicchio
    Moderator
    Dec 16, 2003
    72,692
    It's not the same. Sampras had to beat Becker and Agassi throughout his career. Federer has had...

    Sure trophies count, but a match against an in prime Agassi or a Becker is much more difficult than beating Hewitt, Roddick, or Djokavic.
    Had Federer not been around and only Hewitt, Roddick, Nadal etc then people would have said it's tight competition between them all, and Nadal is just like Sampras while Roddick isn't far from Agassi and so on..

    But then again I agree too many maybe's or probabilities, we can't really know or tell, but fact is Federer is the greatest player ever. He has this style of playing, Sampras, Becker and Agassi never had. He's easy going, force it when necessarily, slow down the rhythm of the play anytime he wants. He's just.....
     
    OP
    HelterSkelter

    HelterSkelter

    Senior Member
    Apr 15, 2005
    19,056
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread Starter #515
    It's not the same. Sampras had to beat Becker and Agassi throughout his career. Federer has had...

    Sure trophies count, but a match against an in prime Agassi or a Becker is much more difficult than beating Hewitt, Roddick, or Djokavic.
    Becker was already in decline when Pete hit his peak in the mid 90's.Agassi was high n dry at the time,and he only came back at the end of Sampras's career.I'm not underestimating Pete,but the names mentioned as his competitors were not at their peak when peak was at his.
     

    JCK

    Biased
    JCK
    May 11, 2004
    123,225
    Correct me if im wrong,but Becker and Sampras never faced each other at the French Open.

    Courier and Sampras played each other twice at the French Open,with both winning once.So i dont see how you can say that both players were obstacles for Pete.He was outdone by much lesser players at the French Open.He just couldnt pull it off on Clay.

    Nadal on the other hand,is a true obstacle for Federer.

    Federer can play very well on Clay,and Nadal is the only one stopping him from a much better French Open record.Sure,we all have personal opinions,but Federer is the more complete player compared to Sampras.
    Then again what is easier? Beating Becker on grass or beating Roddick?
    What is easier, beating Agassi in the US Open or beating Djukovic?
     

    Enron

    Tickle Me
    Moderator
    Oct 11, 2005
    75,242
    Becker was already in decline when Pete hit his peak in the mid 90's.Agassi was high n dry at the time,and he only came back at the end of Sampras's career.I'm not underestimating Pete,but the names mentioned as his competitors were not at their peak when peak was at his.
    Guess you never watched Becker play on grass.
     

    Azzurri7

    Pinturicchio
    Moderator
    Dec 16, 2003
    72,692
    Then again what is easier? Beating Becker on grass or beating Roddick?
    What is easier, beating Agassi in the US Open or beating Djukovic?
    But then again, Nadal is one top player and Roddick isn't that far behind Agassi. Don't see much of a difference here.
     

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