Wouldn't it be nice if Sampras came out of retirement?

[Lawn Tennis]

Yeah, I know he's not capable of competing for #1 or taking slams, but neither is 99% of the tour. I think it would be great to see him playing again. Conservatively he would be top 75 and top 25 is not out of the question. I think the ATP should encourage these legends to come out of retirement by offering a shortened schedule to those 40+.

[Bobby Jr]

He would get his arse handed to him at this age. Seriously, even with that serve he'd be much slower than he was and the current court conditions have turned half the years into effectively French Open scenarios from Sampras' perspective.

[BTURNER]

It usually turns out sad and depressing when champs come out of retirement.

[You Can't Be Serious]

Great player but boring personality. We need Mac vs Jimbo or Tomic vs. his dad;

[Limpinhitter]

Originally Posted by Bobby Jr

He would get his arse handed to him at this age. Seriously, even with that serve he'd be much slower than he was and the current court conditions have turned half the years into effectively French Open scenarios from Sampras' perspective.

I don't know. If Sampras got himself into serious shape and practiced hard for 4-6 months, I think he could do a little damage.

[Lawn Tennis]

Originally Posted by You Can't Be Serious

Great player but boring personality. We need Mac vs Jimbo or Tomic vs. his dad;

lmao

Originally Posted by Limpinhitter

I don't know. If Sampras got himself into serious shape and practiced hard for 4-6 months, I think he could do a little damage.

Exactly. I'm sure right now he has some couch potato tendencies, but it wouldn't take much to build up again.

[Nadal_Power]

In this week era, he can make Top 20

[BobbyOne]

Originally Posted by Nadal_Power

In this week era, he can make Top 20

Maybe even Top 10. A comeback would be fine.

A few years ago Sampras was able to match "GOAT" Federer in some serious exhibitions, and that after a five years pause...

Federer is not used to meet a first class serve and volleyer.

[Steve132]

Originally Posted by BobbyOne

Maybe even Top 10. A comeback would be fine.

A few years ago Sampras was able to match "GOAT" Federer in some serious exhibitions, and that after a five years pause...

Federer is not used to meet a first class serve and volleyer.

Exhibitions are by definition not serious competitive matches. No serious tennis analyst cinsiders them to be a reliable indicator of what would happen if the players were to meet in a tournament

If I remember correctly, Federer beat "a first class serve and volleyer" in the Wimbledon quarter finals of 2001, played on fast grass when he was 19 and that player was 29 years old - younger than Federer's current age. I wonder who that player was.

[joe sch]

Why not for certain events that were shorter in format. Pancho Gonzales beat the best in tennis at 40 years of age, like in the Vegas Open that was played later in the year after the major events had finished. Today there is plenty of money for the seniors to have special touring events so it would probably not be reality.

[joe sch]

Originally Posted by BobbyOne

Maybe even Top 10. A comeback would be fine.

A few years ago Sampras was able to match "GOAT" Federer in some serious exhibitions, and that after a five years pause...

Federer is not used to meet a first class serve and volleyer.

What I would love to see is some current serve volley tennis. Just put together an exo with Sampras, Edberg, Rafter and Becker and throw in some great returners like Agassi and Chang and it would be really different and exciting to watch ... especially if they played the older graphite or even wood rackets.

[pc1]

Sampras is just too old now and I wouldn't want to see him look bad on tour. If we could make him 25 again I wouldn't make him playing but not now.

[BobbyOne]

Originally Posted by joe sch

Why not for certain events that were shorter in format. Pancho Gonzales beat the best in tennis at 40 years of age, like in the Vegas Open that was played later in the year after the major events had finished. Today there is plenty of money for the seniors to have special touring events so it would probably not be reality.

I doubt that Gonzalez played his best tennis at 40 even though he had spectacular wins against Laver, Rosewall, Newcombe, Roche and Ashe at 40 to 42. He just was such a genius that he could save much of his prime level into that old age.

No player ever was at his best at 40. In Pancho's time the prime of the top players was from about 25-30, more recently from 22 to 29.

[the green god]

As a big Sampras fan all I can think of is Ali vs Holmes

[Djoker]

Originally Posted by the green god

As a big Sampras fan all I can think of is Ali vs Holmes

Yeah but this is "only" tennis. Only thing he'd have hurt would be his pride.

[BrooklynNY]

I've seen Sampras play a handful of exos since he retired. Against Safin, Roddick, Agassi. They are all impressive displays. He played Roddick and Safin to close 6-4 sets.

I wouldn't want to him to play the tour, but one-off exo against a top 50 player would be exciting.

[Lawn Tennis]

Originally Posted by Djoker

Yeah but this is "only" tennis. Only thing he'd have hurt would be his pride.

What I was thinking too. Who cares if you can't perform like in the past. Bring your best and see what happens.

[tennisplayer1993]

would love to see this but he's old now.

[christo]

World Team Tennis only. If he had to play 2 matches on consecutive days he would be toast

[the green god]

Originally Posted by Lawn Tennis

What I was thinking too. Who cares if you can't perform like in the past. Bring your best and see what happens.

Alpha's do not enjoy getting their azzes handed to them no matter what their age is