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

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  • Yes

    Votes: 11 40.7%
  • No

    Votes: 15 55.6%
  • Maybe

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • I don't know.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Can you repeat the question?

    Votes: 4 14.8%

  • Total voters
    27

Lawn Tennis

Semi-Pro
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

G.O.A.T.
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.
 

Limpinhitter

G.O.A.T.
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.
 

BobbyOne

G.O.A.T.
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

Professional
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

Legend
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

Legend
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

G.O.A.T.
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

G.O.A.T.
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.
 

BrooklynNY

Hall of Fame
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.
 

kiki

Banned
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.

Rosewall was greater ( and that is a lot) at 40 than Pancho himself.Tilden,Connors,Kramer,Bromwich,Sedgman,Ashe,Agassi,Gimeno and Laver are the other guys that, for a while could play as well as in their peak once they got over 35 or 36.
 

TMF

Talk Tennis Guru
No way a 40+ years old can compete against the modern pro. Sampras can compete on the senior tour. Unless if he was playing in the 60s when it wasn't that competitive, then it's doable since Pancho can still compete despite well past his prime.
 

Tagg

New User
no

he achieved what he set out to achieve and had nothing left to prove to himself

he has said this himself many times

wimbledon offered him a wildcard in 2007, and he rightly refused

there is still the seniors tour, as well as other invitational tournaments and exhibitions

that being said, sampras still has the serve. check out his matches at blackrock championships versus mcenroe

still lethal
 

hisrob777

Rookie
It would be just like when Michael Jordan came out of retirement and played for the Wizards. Except Sampras would have no younger teammates to rely on. He would win some matches sure. But his legacy would be altered a bit.
 

woodrow1029

Hall of Fame
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+.

No way he would ever be top 75 now.

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.

Exactly

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

Because they can't compete

Maybe even Top 10. A comeback would be fine.

LOL

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.

Right, because Federer was really playing his top level tennis in those matches, and not keeping it close for the entertainment.
 
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