Better athlete: Federer or Sampras

[dangalak]

I wanted to compare Sampras and Nadal, but many would dismiss Pete because of his lack of stamina.

So I am comparing him to a lesser athlete in Federer. Who is more athletic in your opinion.

[RF20Lennon]

highly doubt sampras wouldve been able to keep up with nadal in tough 5 setters physically

[scotus]

Feather-light movement and footwork, stamina = Federer

Explosive movement, vertical jump, pure speed = Sampras

[Sid_Vicious]

in b4 the Natural and 90sClay.

[stormholloway]

Originally Posted by scotus

Feather-light movement and footwork, stamina = Federer

Explosive movement, vertical jump, pure speed = Sampras

Exactly.

I think Federer probably has a clear edge in endurance as well. Sampras rarely had to endure long grueling baseline battles to win majors.

[90's Clay]

Lets see Fed do this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emPy439hmCQ



I think I saw him try it vs. Haas one match and it wasn't nearly close to the hops Sampras got


Fed has more endurance.. But thats mainly because Sampras had a blood disorder which zapped a lot of his endurance away.

Sampras could also dunk a basketball on the standard 10 foot rim. . I highly doubt Roger can

Athleticism- Pete by a country mile
Endurance-Roger

[MTF07]

Originally Posted by 90's Clay

Lets see Fed do this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emPy439hmCQ



I think I saw him try it vs. Haas one match and it wasn't nearly close to the hops Sampras got


Fed has more endurance.. But thats mainly because Sampras had a blood disorder which zapped a lot of his endurance away.

Sampras could also dunk a basketball on the standard 10 foot rim. . I highly doubt Roger can

Athleticism- Pete by a country mile
Endurance-Roger

Of course. And Pete would have won 25 majors without this blood disorder.

[roundiesee]

I would think Pete had a slight edge (and bearing in mind he had Thalassemia); I have never seen anyone move so explosively and with such an intent on offense as Pete Sampras.

[DeShaun]

Originally Posted by scotus

Feather-light movement and footwork, stamina = Federer

Explosive movement, vertical jump, pure speed = Sampras

Very well said.

[Bjorn99]

High levels of testosterone rob one of ones hair. If Pete was able to dunk a basketball, I would pledge that a large part of that was due to his enhancements. Look at pictures of him when he was around 13. Stick legs.

Later on, he went to the longer pant that we now all use, and I swore he used those pants to hide the orangutang legs that he had "developed".

I think Federer's enhancements were more in the way of stamina and quickness. Pete went for power.

And Federer's sudden out of nowhere concentration?? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE5uv7j25Us&feature=plcp I would wager that he is fully hip to these.

[gsharma]

Originally Posted by Bjorn99

High levels of testosterone rob one of ones hair. If Pete was able to dunk a basketball, I would pledge that a large part of that was due to his enhancements. Look at pictures of him when he was around 13. Stick legs.

Later on, he went to the longer pant that we now all use, and I swore he used those pants to hide the orangutang legs that he had "developed".

I think Federer's enhancements were more in the way of stamina and quickness. Pete went for power.

You don't believe in lifting weights and getting stronger, do you? By the way, Pete could dunk a tennis ball, not a basketball which would require a higher vertical jump.

[Semi-Pro]

Originally Posted by 90's Clay

Lets see Fed do this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emPy439hmCQ



I think I saw him try it vs. Haas one match and it wasn't nearly close to the hops Sampras got


Fed has more endurance.. But thats mainly because Sampras had a blood disorder which zapped a lot of his endurance away.

Sampras could also dunk a basketball on the standard 10 foot rim. . I highly doubt Roger can

Athleticism- Pete by a country mile
Endurance-Roger

So, in essence, whoever can dunk a standard 10 foot rim is a better athlete than one who cannot. Gotcha.

[TheFifthSet]

Originally Posted by 90's Clay

Lets see Fed do this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emPy439hmCQ



I think I saw him try it vs. Haas one match and it wasn't nearly close to the hops Sampras got


Fed has more endurance.. But thats mainly because Sampras had a blood disorder which zapped a lot of his endurance away.

Sampras could also dunk a basketball on the standard 10 foot rim. . I highly doubt Roger can

Athleticism- Pete by a country mile
Endurance-Roger

He could dunk a volleyball, not a basketball.

[stormholloway]

Originally Posted by 90's Clay

Lets see Fed do this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emPy439hmCQ

Most of those "slam dunks" aren't even lobs intended to go over Sampras. He generally performed that move for effect.

I think I saw him try it vs. Haas one match and it wasn't nearly close to the hops Sampras got

But since nobody has measured, we'll never know. I'm sure Federer can jump plenty high.

Fed has more endurance.. But thats mainly because Sampras had a blood disorder which zapped a lot of his endurance away.

Mainly? Federer lays waste to a line of hitting partners in 120 degree weather. The man is a phenom.

Sampras could also dunk a basketball on the standard 10 foot rim. . I highly doubt Roger can

Also? You already mentioned Sampras' vertical leaps. In fact that's all you've given him.

Athleticism- Pete by a country mile
Endurance-Roger

Nonsense. Nobody moves or has ever moved on a tennis court with the quickness and anticipation of Federer. It's not even close. His first movement to the ball is lightning quick and his footwork his unparalleled.

And I've watched a lot of and appreciate Sampras. You're a fanboy without any objectivity.

[Raging Buddha]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9ROSEAOmB8

I'm pretty sure that's better than half the stuff in the Sampras video. And it's pretty sad if you're using the ability to jump high as the sole comparison for athleticism.

[BorisBeckerFan]

I am not sure what there is to compare really. Pete was a beast, an absolute animal. Federer is more graceful and has better stamina. What Pete has over Fed in sheer explosiveness Fed more than makes up for with amazing footwork and anticipation. Totally different types of players in my opinion. Also depends a lot on what one values in an athlete. Obviously these 2 being particularly gifted.

[BorisBeckerFan]

Originally Posted by Raging Buddha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9ROSEAOmB8

I'm pretty sure that's better than half the stuff in the Sampras video. And it's pretty sad if you're using the ability to jump high as the sole comparison for athleticism.

Well I think Fed is every bit the athlete that Pete was just in different ways but your example isn't any where near the level that was displayed in the previously posted video. I do agree that jumping high as the only basis for comparison is laughable. Anticipation and footwork are key areas where Fed has an edge over Pete.

[Headshotterer]

Sampras who?

[Raging Buddha]

Originally Posted by BorisBeckerFan

Well I think Fed is every bit the athlete that Pete was just in different ways but your example isn't any where near the level that was displayed in the previously posted video. I do agree that jumping high as the only basis for comparison is laughable. Anticipation and footwork are key areas where Fed has an edge over Pete.

Of course there was several dunks in the Sampras version that were better, it's just that that dunk was quite a bit better than some of the dunks in the Sampras video.

But this one is probably better than the Wimbledon one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9ROSEAOmB8

[TennisLovaLova]

Originally Posted by Headshotterer

Sampras who?

Roger Federer