Agassi > Sampras: if both were at their peaks today

lockbox

Rookie
So first off, I say this being probably one of the biggest Sampras fans ever. I still am to this day and think he was great.

Nonetheless, I think that if both were at their peaks and playing today, Agassi would have the advantage in terms of success. I'm not even saying that i think Agasssi would have had a winning record against Sampras (though I guess it's implied) but that he would be more successful overall.

I think this because Agassi's game seems better adjusted to the hard hitting, groundstroke experts of the day. Sure Sampras had the serve (and volley), but I think the game is neutralized enough that baseliners have an advantage.

Tell me if you disagree.
 

Third Serve

Talk Tennis Guru
This should be in the Former Pro Player Discussion. You have the wrong forum.

Nevertheless, I agree. Agassi's game was much more modernized than Sampras's game and he would have done much better in this current era than Pistol Pete would. The same could be said for Sampras but for even earlier dates, such as around 1980 or even further back. I think the 90s was really the best time period for them to have competed against each other because the surfaces were polarized just enough for each to have his advantage in a particular condition.
 

mikeler

Moderator
We are talking two guys in their upper 40s. Foot speed is down, so the premium for power increases with age. I'd think Sampras would be even more dominant now all things being equal.
 

chimneysweep

Semi-Pro
It is hard to say. In theory that could easily be the case, but Agassi would probably still have a lot of his emotional up and downs, and erratic career path.
 

flanker2000fr

Hall of Fame
You mean, the surfaces having been slowed down and poly strings allowing much more control on returns and passing shots would give an edge to Agassi?

Who knew?
 
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chimneysweep

Semi-Pro
I would love to live in a world Agassi outdid Pete. Pete has to be the most boring and unlikeable champion ever. Hated him when he played. Seems like a jerk too, and boring game.
 

chimneysweep

Semi-Pro
Why dont you tell what you REALLY think

Haha in addition to all I said he has the ugliest chest ever. I hated when he took his shirt off, it looked like stepping into a Planet of Apes movie.

And Mary Manrillo was so freaking in love with him. She should have been fired for her excess bias to Sampras alone, in addition to thousands of other reasons.
 

mental midget

Hall of Fame
at their respective peaks? still giving pete the advantage. serve-bot caliber serve with incredible quickness and athleticism, and his ground game was just fine. i see things playing out mostly the way they did the first time with obvious advantage to andre on clay.
 

Devilito

Legend
People have this terrible idea that Petros was some sort of netrusher with some barely passable groundstrokes like Edberg or Mac. Pete dominated his fare share of baseline exchanges with Andre and often won from the back as he was more agressive and Andre was uncomfortable playing defense. If he played now adays he would play similar to Fed, mixing in serve and volley and coming in off approriate agressive shots. He wouldnt just mindlessly come in. HIs forehand would be enough of a weapon to dominate many rallys and his backhand would be far more effective with a 97 sq" frame and poly.
 
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