New Video analysis of Greatest SERVE ever in history of Tennis from Tennis magazine.

[FedForGOAT]

Thank you for some clarification. No one will argue that Roddick/Karlovic have great serves. But you are using pure statistics to base your claim. Those stats need to be given for you to have any credit.

Again, you missed Drakulie's point and to me he was saying Karlovic's serve is great only against inferior players. He loses alot in the later rounds when he plays better players (ones that return well). He used Federer as a point that although Karlvic, stastically speaking is the best server, Feder out serves him when they play. 5 mathces is not a lot, but it does say something. Put Pete's serve against any of the top servers in his day and you would probably find he outaced or won more service points than his opponent. Pete dominaed EVERYONE he served against (I am talking strictly points won on serve and serve% wins). Karlovic can't say the same thing. That is why agree w/Drakulie that Karlovic is not as good a server as Pete.

So Agassi never said Pete's name. You see, you made false claims. Agassi never, ever said Roddick has a better serve than Pete. He was just making a point about how great Roddick serves. Its not like he compared Roddick and Pete's serve. YOU are assuming this.

Again..Agassi said Pete is the best server ever (I will find the interview. I just saw it).

You are the one calling people names and being arguementative.:-?

"you would probably find he outaced or won more service points than his opponent."

Right, like the 1996 ATP Tour World Championships finals in Hanover where becker outaced Sampras 32 aces to 15.

And federer does not "outserve" Karlovic.

 

[kaiotic]

Pete did say he was terrified of Goran's serves

at serve, Karlovic looks just like Goran

scary bombs

 

[kaiotic]

Goran said Stich's serve was the toughest for him to return as he couldn't read it, every serve with the same ball toss he said.

Bruguera said Goran's return was the toughest for him to return, and it was the best ever for sure...yet seemed to handle Sampras, Stich, Krajicek, and Becker's serves pretty darn well. Goran, however, when he was on with his serve would utterly stupify Bruguera, leaving him barely able to make any returns.

A lot of players would probably say Roddick and Philipoussis' serves are darn near unreturnable, yet for Federer; it's like he's picking apples from an apple tree it's so easy to return them.

Cash has coached both Rusedski and Philipoussis, two of the baddest servers ever, and he said Philipoussis' serve wasn't that hard for him to return, but Rusedski's was something else, that it was near impossible for him to return, because of the crazy action he got on the ball.

What I'm saying is that while there are many great serves, there is not necessarily a best. I think it differs on an opponent by opponent basis and individual style matchups. A short player, for example, like Bersategui might find a guy with an high bouncing kicker to his backhand to be positively sadistic and unfair; wheras a taller player might look at that kind of serve as a 5-star gourmet meal.

A *lefty* player with wingspan might find they return Goran's famous lefty wide serves easier than they do your typical heavy Sampras kick-bomb first serve.

It's all relative. I know personally that for me I've had people tell me oh watch out this guy's serve in unbelievably huge, you'll never be able to return it, then find that when I play them I'm not only returning all their serves, I'm returning everyone with interest and pummeling them. I'm just "on" to his motion, unique spin, whatever. Then, I face another big server and find that everything just feels totally whack and different, and no matter what I do, I'm always leaning the wrong way and when I do lean the right way, my returns just dribble into the bottom of the net, I just can't seem to make clean contact for the life of me, 'cause everything just feels so squirelly. Again, it's relative. You'd be surprised how much difference little individual nuances between the kind of ball one guy hits and another's can throw an INDIVIDUAL player off.

Agassi for example had seemingly zero problems with say Becker or Stich's serves, yet Sampras' serve just ate him up. It's a perfectly natural human phenomenon.

good points.

 

[superman1]

(Agassi thought nothing much of Goran and even said it was easy to return (for him). How or why would Agassi say that is just not possible. Goran is known to have the best serve in the 90's (at least pace and angle). No way Roddick is better than Goran.

I doubt Agassi would say that today - if he did say it, it was when he was brash and arrogant. I just checked the last 5 matches they played. Agassi got aced a lot in all of those matches, yet he won 4 out of 5 (although Goran retired in one). He broke Goran's serve quite a bit. People who say Agassi wasn't the greatest returner because he got aced a lot don't really understand that getting aced was a consequence of standing close and taking risks. The payoff came when he was able to break serve, or at least put a lot of pressure on the serve on a consistent basis.

 

[Ultra2HolyGrail]

Pete had the best serve and motion. Wimbledon99 win over agassi is the finest serving display in history!!

 

[okdude1992]

Drak you used the Karlovic stats vs. Fed to "proove" that Feds serve is better than Karlovic's but this is ridiculous. You talked about all the weak players Karlovic beats. But this is insane. Karlovic has probably the worst groundstrokes/return on the whole ATP tour except maybe Isner. Don't you think those Fed serve numbers might be just slightly inflated. Imagine Fed serving against himself. we might think his serve wasn't good at all.

 

[flyer]

Drak you used the Karlovic stats vs. Fed to "proove" that Feds serve is better than Karlovic's but this is ridiculous. You talked about all the weak players Karlovic beats. But this is insane. Karlovic has probably the worst groundstrokes/return on the whole ATP tour except maybe Isner. Don't you think those Fed serve numbers might be just slightly inflated. Imagine Fed serving against himself. we might think his serve wasn't good at all.

Obviously DraK and Slappola or whatever their names are do not take into account the differences between Karlovic's and Sampras' ground games and its effect on statistics like a rational, smart person would do...

 

[the green god]

It was all part of Pete's master plan. Pete to Roger,"Hey Roger, could you please let me not get broken for two straight matches and face one break point? That would make me look really good." Rogers reply, "That is a great idea Pete, will do. Hit those serves 130mph an inch from the line and I will casually give you all these easy returns to hit." Believe what you want, but on those courts the last two matches were on, Pete is going to hold serve 95% of the time against any player.

 

[mileslong]

This is what several of us have been saying - Federer was beaten fair and square in the 3rd match, notwithstanding his smiles or his Rolex. He was just blown out of the court by Pete.

you really don't have a clue do you?

 

[drakulie]

Drak you used the Karlovic stats vs. Fed to "proove" that Feds serve is better than Karlovic's but this is ridiculous.

No, I didn't. I only used those stats to show that when he plays better returners>> his serve is not as great as his overall yearly stats show.

Here is a quick breakdown of his 2007 year: (Slams and ATP Master Series Events)

Grand Slams:
AO Open lost in round 128 to Melzer (ranked 32).
French Open lost in round 64 to Bjorkman (ranked 39)
Wimbledon lost in round 128 to Santoro (ranked 70).
US Open lost in round 128 to Clement (ranked 42).

Total Matches played= 5.

Match Serve Facts:
1. In every match above he out-aced every opponent.
2. He had a higher first serve percentage in 3 of the 4 matches.
3. He won a higher percentage of first serves in 3 of the 4 matches.
[size=+2]4. He lost a higher percentage of second serves in 3 of the 4 matches.[/size]

ATP Master Series:
Miami lost in round 128 to Garcia-Lopez (ranked 66).
Canada lost in round 32 to Federer (ranked 1).
Cincinnati lost in round 64 to Melzer (ranked 34).
Madrid lost in round 16 to keifer (ranked 112).
Paris lost in round 32 to federer (ranked 1).

Total Matches played= 9.

Match Serve Facts:
1. In every match above he out-aced every opponent.
2. He had a higher first serve percentage in 2 of the 5 matches.
3. He won a higher percentage of first serves in 2 of the 5 matches.
[size=+2]4. He lost a higher percentage of second serves in 4 of the 5 matches.[/size]


I hardly think anyone with these serve stats is as "Great" a server as people on these boards make him out to be. Note: he only played 1 player in the top 10.

Like I said, his overall yearly serve stats are inflated. Most of his "impressive" (cough) serve stats are a result of playing smaller tournaments and beating up on lousy players who are not as good returners as the guys in the larger tourneys. In the smaller tourneys, where the competition is not as good he gets deper into tourneys which enables him to beef up his serve stats. But even in those tourneys, when he gets deeper into the draw his serve is less and less effective.

Class Over everyone. Bye, Bye!

 

[Azzurri]

"you would probably find he outaced or won more service points than his opponent."

Right, like the 1996 ATP Tour World Championships finals in Hanover where becker outaced Sampras 32 aces to 15.

And federer does not "outserve" Karlovic.

LOL...so? You are talking about one match and Becker was one of the great servers of the 80's and 90's. I hope you can argue better than this.

I was talking about the 5 matches and Drakulie's stats showed he OUTSERVED Karloivic...again, hope you can argue better than this.

 

[VikingSamurai]

LOL...so? You are talking about one match and Becker was one of the great servers of the 80's and 90's. I hope you can argue better than this.

I was talking about the 5 matches and Drakulie's stats showed he OUTSERVED Karloivic...again, hope you can argue better than this.

Well, no one will be talking about Karlovic in 20 years, let alone 3 or 4

 

[Azzurri]

I doubt Agassi would say that today - if he did say it, it was when he was brash and arrogant. I just checked the last 5 matches they played. Agassi got aced a lot in all of those matches, yet he won 4 out of 5 (although Goran retired in one). He broke Goran's serve quite a bit. People who say Agassi wasn't the greatest returner because he got aced a lot don't really understand that getting aced was a consequence of standing close and taking risks. The payoff came when he was able to break serve, or at least put a lot of pressure on the serve on a consistent basis.

Yes, I agree with your assessment 100%. The main reason why Agassi was aced so often against guys like, Sampras, Becker, Goran and other big servers was his proximity to the service box. I remember the announcers would always make a poiint about how close he stood, but his incredible hand speed (and eye/hand coordination) attributed to his being the best service returner I have ever seen. Part of the reason why he lasted so long on tour. Those people that look at the amount of times he was aced know nothing about his style and it seemed to work pretty well.

And Agassi did say this. I don't remember his exact wording, but he loved the challenge of playing Goran and standing close to the line to F witgh his mind. I wish I knew where I read it...

 

[Azzurri]

Obviously DraK and Slappola or whatever their names are do not take into account the differences between Karlovic's and Sampras' ground games and its effect on statistics like a rational, smart person would do...

Go get me a coke...ROOKIE!

Where are the stats ROOKIE? Please stop posting your drivvle until you have some. If you have them and prove your point I will gladly retract the ROOKIE comment and hold you in the highest esteem.

 

[drakulie]

LOL...so? You are talking about one match and Becker was one of the great servers of the 80's and 90's. I hope you can argue better than this.

I was talking about the 5 matches and Drakulie's stats showed he OUTSERVED Karloivic...again, hope you can argue better than this.

Yeah, I don't get these people. Just look at Ivo's 2007 tournaments played. In the slams and ATP Masters Series events he didn't do squat. He beefed up his stats in all these small tourneys playing people in the 100s, 200's, and 300's. Not very impressive in my book.

Becker, as you said was a serve monster, and shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath with Ivo.

BTW< thanks for backing me up while I was away. As always, you were able to understand the angle to my argument.

 

[Azzurri]

Well, no one will be talking about Karlovic in 20 years, let alone 3 or 4

That depends..what are the odds FLYER continues this argument in 2028?

What do you think? Interested in your thoughts regarding this. Karlovic does have a tremendous serve, but the rest of his game is soooo poor otherwise. Its kind of tough to say he is better than Sampras in anything.

 

[Azzurri]

Yeah, I don't get these people. Just look at Ivo's 2007 tournaments played. In the slams and ATP Masters Series events he didn't do squat. He beefed up his stats in all these small tourneys playing people in the 100s, 200's, and 300's. Not very impressive in my book.

Becker, as you said was a serve monster, and shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath with Ivo.

BTW< thanks for backing me up while I was away. As always, you were able to understand the angle to my argument.

That's a great point about the little tourney's Karlovic pads his stats in and makes perfect sense. How many times does he ace challenger type player and guys ranked in the 200-400 range, most likely quite a bit. But, when he plays a good player, his serve is neutralized because its really not as good as a Goran, Becker or Pete. The three guys I mention served well against everyone (maybe Goran and Becker did have trouble with Agassi). So I would hardly say he is the best of all time. You and I have witnessed these guys and seem to have a better understanding.

I loved watching Becker serve. I will never, ever forget his 85 Wimbledon. My buddy and I were 14 years old and had not seen someone serve like that. There not many athletes with a better fitting nickname than Boris "Boom Boom" Becker. Still gives me chills.

Hey, you are one of the good guys on the board. Anytime my friend.

 

[VikingSamurai]

That depends..what are the odds FLYER continues this argument in 2028?

What do you think? Interested in your thoughts regarding this. Karlovic does have a tremendous serve, but the rest of his game is soooo poor otherwise. Its kind of tough to say he is better than Sampras in anything.

And why I don't rate Roddick as anything special either.. Its great to be a good server, as it makes your life a little easier for half the points. But if you can't do anything else, then I don't see why people would put someone like Karlovic in the same sentence as truelly great players..

Its funny. I sat down and watched a replay of the Roddick Federer match at the AO last year, and even though Roddick had a big serve, he doesn't have a decent game to go with it.. To make things worse, Federer even knows how to play his serve, so its not like Roddick can get close..

I will say that the difference between Roddic and Karlovic is, that Roddick plays more often guys in the top 50, Karlovic does not.. Someone in another thread rated Isner at the AO this year?.. I never saw all that much to him when he played Fed at the US Open other than a big serve..

Big serves are great. But without a full game, mental toughness, and an on court presence. Then you really aren't going to be a great in anyones language..

 

[Azzurri]

And why I don't rate Roddick as anything special either.. Its great to be a good server, as it makes your life a little easier for half the points. But if you can't do anything else, then I don't see why people would put someone like Karlovic in the same sentence as truelly great players..

Its funny. I sat down and watched a replay of the Roddick Federer match at the AO last year, and even though Roddick had a big serve, he doesn't have a decent game to go with it.. To make things worse, Federer even knows how to play his serve, so its not like Roddick can get close..

I will say that the difference between Roddic and Karlovic is, that Roddick plays more often guys in the top 50, Karlovic does not.. Someone in another thread rated Isner at the AO this year?.. I never saw all that much to him when he played Fed at the US Open other than a big serve..

Big serves are great. But without a full game, mental toughness, and an on court presence. Then you really aren't going to be a great in anyones language..

Agreed. Roddick is avg. at best these past few years. w/out that serve he woiuld be a top 50 player at best. I watched that match 3 times and I will give Roddick credit for playing as well as he could against Fed. To me, it just shows how far Federer is against his peers (exception to Nadal...he has game). When you look back at someone like Goran, imagine him in today's game. He had some game (head got in the way). Who kinows what he could have won w/out Pete and Andre around.

 

[FedForGOAT]

LOL...so? You are talking about one match and Becker was one of the great servers of the 80's and 90's. I hope you can argue better than this.

I was talking about the 5 matches and Drakulie's stats showed he OUTSERVED Karloivic...again, hope you can argue better than this.

I'll resist the temptation to go down to your level and start say irrelevant argumentative things.

My point is exactly what you said, that Becker was one of the greatest servvers and his serve by itself is probably at least the equivalent of Sampras'.

And Ivanisevic outaced Sampras over an entire season, serving no less than 1447 aces, or about 400 more than Sampras ever did in a season.

So just the serve itself, I think its pretty safe to say that overall, Goran's serve was better than Pete's.

 

[VikingSamurai]

^^^ I would say Goran's was better also..

 

[flyer]

Go get me a coke...ROOKIE!

Where are the stats ROOKIE? Please stop posting your drivvle until you have some. If you have them and prove your point I will gladly retract the ROOKIE comment and hold you in the highest esteem.

go get yourself a brain, champ

 

[Azzurri]

I'll resist the temptation to go down to your level and start say irrelevant argumentative things.

My point is exactly what you said, that Becker was one of the greatest servvers and his serve by itself is probably at least the equivalent of Sampras'.

And Ivanisevic outaced Sampras over an entire season, serving no less than 1447 aces, or about 400 more than Sampras ever did in a season.

So just the serve itself, I think its pretty safe to say that overall, Goran's serve was better than Pete's.

I will be clear, maybe it will help.

Sampras had a better serve than Boris...no question.
To me , Goran had the best 1st serve of the 90's.
Agassi said Sampras had the best serve he faced in the 90's.
Agassi did not fear Goran's serve (nor Becker..hence winning records).

TO ME, Sampras has the better all around serve (mostly for his 2nd serve). Agassi (IMO is the greatest returner ever) has stated he was not scared of Goran or Becker's serve, but he was in awe of the Sampras serve and it gave him a lot of trouble.

A point was made earlier about these big servers and playing little tourney's against inferior opponents. The year Goran had 400 more aces...how many more tourney's did he play in than Pete? But I don't know why I am even discussing this with you. I already told you I felt Goran had the best serve (1st), but Agassi felt different, so who am I?

if possible, since you claim to have stats, check how many 2nd serve ace % each player had. That will tell you something...doubt you will find it, so no one could win the argument since it is OPINION.

 

[Azzurri]

go get yourself a brain, champ

Flyer, every one that has been reading this thread will know you are full of BS because you have yet to produce any of these so called stats you claim.

You seem to be a time waster.

 

[flyer]

Flyer, every one that has been reading this thread will know you are full of BS because you have yet to produce any of these so called stats you claim.

You seem to be a time waster.

ok champ, since you say i can't prove my stats, make me a deal, if i prove them you change your avitar to either roddick or karlovic and make your signature "ivo & andy- best serves ever!"

 

[Jonnyf]

Ok, I know everyone will nitpick but as 20:55 or so Agassi says "It's the biggest serve I've ever faced"
http://www.stage6.com/Tennis-Channel/video/1786325/USopen-QF-Federer-Roddick-2nd-set

Re-enters the argument! haha

 

[Azzurri]

Ok, I know everyone will nitpick but as 20:55 or so Agassi says "It's the biggest serve I've ever faced"
http://www.stage6.com/Tennis-Channel/video/1786325/USopen-QF-Federer-Roddick-2nd-set

Re-enters the argument! haha

correct...biggest in terms of speed, but not best.

 

[Azzurri]

ok champ, since you say i can't prove my stats, make me a deal, if i prove them you change your avitar to either roddick or karlovic and make your signature "ivo & andy- best serves ever!"

not doing any of that. if you want to "prove" yourself and stop looking like a fool, then get your stats. I'm not 13 years old.

 

[Jonnyf]

correct...biggest in terms of speed, but not best.

Haha, Knew I wouldn't get you to agree! Basically it depends on how you interprate Agassi saying that, Biggest could mean speed alone, or biggest could mean literally the biggest and best serve he's been up against. Surely you can agree with that viewpoint?

 

[flyer]

not doing any of that. if you want to "prove" yourself and stop looking like a fool, then get your stats. I'm not 13 years old.

hahaha, you loser i knew your all talk, your not a man, thats enough for me on this tread, peace!

 

[Azzurri]

Haha, Knew I wouldn't get you to agree! Basically it depends on how you interprate Agassi saying that, Biggest could mean speed alone, or biggest could mean literally the biggest and best serve he's been up against. Surely you can agree with that viewpoint?

I agree. But I am basing my opinion on what Agassi has said about Pete's serve. so biggest may be the fastes and no one will argue that Roddick has the fastest.

 

[Azzurri]

hahaha, you loser i knew your all talk, your not a man, thats enough for me on this tread, peace!

you are one amazing child. good, please leave.

 

[Azzurri]

Ok, I know everyone will nitpick but as 20:55 or so Agassi says "It's the biggest serve I've ever faced"
http://www.stage6.com/Tennis-Channel/video/1786325/USopen-QF-Federer-Roddick-2nd-set

Re-enters the argument! haha

ok. I watched it. Mac started off by saying he played Andy in a few exo's and he had a hard time returning it because of he PACE. Agassi chimed in right after saying it was the biggest serve he had ever faced...concurring with Mac that he had the biggest serve in terms of PACE (speed). Just what I figured. There is no arguement that Roddick has the biggest serve in tennis (speed). Biggest does not mean best. There is 2nd serve to consider and last I checked there was little to no arguement that Pete had the best 2nd serve ever.

 

[Jonnyf]

ok. I watched it. Mac started off by saying he played Andy in a few exo's and he had a hard time returning it because of he PACE. Agassi chimed in right after saying it was the biggest serve he had ever faced...concurring with Mac that he had the biggest serve in terms of PACE (speed). Just what I figured. There is no arguement that Roddick has the biggest serve in tennis (speed). Biggest does not mean best. There is 2nd serve to consider and last I checked there was little to no arguement that Pete had the best 2nd serve ever.

Haha, think about it surely you'd say to a friend "Man, that guy had the BIGGEST serve I've ever played against" doesn't necessarily mean pace alone. Hahah, wasn't that what like 50% of this thread was about Agassi saying Roddick had a better 2nd serve.

 

[Azzurri]

Haha, think about it surely you'd say to a friend "Man, that guy had the BIGGEST serve I've ever played against" doesn't necessarily mean pace alone. Hahah, wasn't that what like 50% of this thread was about Agassi saying Roddick had a better 2nd serve.

Not sure I agree, again. How many times have I heard this QB or that QB has the biggest arm in the league, does that mean they are the best? No!

Pitchers...biggest arm in the 90's, does that mean best picther? No!

Biggest usually means strongest, but not best.

In the 80's Elway had the biggest arm, was he the best? No, Montana was and he had an avg strength arm.

In the 90's Randy Johnson had the biggest arm in baseball, was he the best? No, Clemens and Maddux were better and neither threw 99 mph fastballs (although Clemens could throw some heat).

C'mon, do you not at least understand my poiint about the term "biggest"? Is the biggest guy on the basketball court always the best?

 

[superman1]

I recall McEnroe saying that Roddick's serve was the biggest serve he had ever seen (this is nothing new - Roddick has the serve speed record, it's just a fact). However, Mac didn't put Roddick's serve at #1, because it's not that well placed. He said Sampras had the best serve he'd faced, particularly because of the way he backed it up. He put Ivanisevic and Becker up there as well.

I don't know if Sampras had the best serve ever. He probably didn't. How can you possibly serve better than a guy who is 9 inches taller than you? He had the best serve for a guy his size, which was the perfect size to be able to have an all-court game. So that's why I always pick Sampras' serve when making up the perfect player, because it's unrealistic to say the perfect player would have Karlovic's serve and McEnroe's volleys. It's impossible to volley like McEnroe when the net is at your ankles.

 

[Azzurri]

I recall McEnroe saying that Roddick's serve was the biggest serve he had ever seen (this is nothing new - Roddick has the serve speed record, it's just a fact). However, Mac didn't put Roddick's serve at #1, because it's not that well placed. He said Sampras had the best serve he'd faced, particularly because of the way he backed it up. He put Ivanisevic and Becker up there as well.

I don't know if Sampras had the best serve ever. He probably didn't. How can you possibly serve better than a guy who is 9 inches taller than you? He had the best serve for a guy his size, which was the perfect size to be able to have an all-court game. So that's why I always pick Sampras' serve when making up the perfect player, because it's unrealistic to say the perfect player would have Karlovic's serve and McEnroe's volleys. It's impossible to volley like McEnroe when the net is at your ankles.

Now this is a logical point, well said. Mac never said he was the best. No one can argue he (Rod) has the fastest serve on tour.

Mac has said it countless times, he does nuse his huge serve to advantage. Roddick does not place the serve well. Maybe that is why his % 1st and 2nd serve is so high, does not take risks.

This is all opinion anyway and I have stated as much. It is my opinion that Sampras had the best serve (when you take 1st and 2nd serve into considiration). I just don't know any player that served as many 2nd serve aces as Pete did, unless I see some proof. But some people on this thread threw out #'s and never provided any prrof and called people "brainless" when the supposed "brainless" person provided back up. Its just ridiculous.

 

[Fedace]

I really think Alex Clayton has better service motion than Pete Sampras. I have no clue how this little man can serve so big. You can tell me that i am drinking Stanford Coolaid but i am really starting to believe this.

 

[stormholloway]

Thay may be the case with Ivo, but not with Roddick. Roddicks FH is superior to Sampras. In fact his BH is at least on par with Sampras. Contrary to myth,,,, Sampras by no means had an outstanding ground game.

Oh come on. Sampras had one of the great forehands, far better than Roddick's tightly wound spinny little thing. Sampras had a great ground game. I don't get why you always dog it.

 

[CEvertFan]

I would say that if Pete's 1st serve wasn't the very best serve ever then it's most likely in the top 5, but his 2nd serve is without a doubt the best ever as he hit it almost like his 1st serve and just added a bit more spin and was able to keep most of the power on it and unlike someone like Roddick he could place his serves anywhere in the box he wanted to.

I remember watching Sampras in action during his prime and he would serve a lot of aces per match against highly ranked quality opponents and not just against lesser ranked players like Karlovic does.

 

[stormholloway]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpPDFuP7nZE&feature=related

Sampras so-called "weak" ground game seemed to handle Muster just fine. Sure it may be a fast court by there's no way Roddick is even close to Sampras from the ground.

 

[drakulie]

Storm, I understand peoples love of sampras, as he is also one of my favorite players of all time. However, his ground game was nothing special compared to the guys he was playing against. This is why, except for one year, he never came close to winning the French. He had a "blitzkrieg" (spelling) type of game>> Go for broke. Yes, he hit some unbelievable shots (running FH, etc.) but he could not sustain it.

For every running FH he hit, he would miss a ton throughout the course of a match. His FH, unlike Roddicks was not even close to being a rally shot. He'd go for it, and either miss or hit. Roddick could rally with it, or put it away. However, these days he can't do squat with it.

 

[BeHappy]

Storm, I understand peoples love of sampras, as he is also one of my favorite players of all time. However, his ground game was nothing special compared to the guys he was playing against. This is why, except for one year, he never came close to winning the French. He had a "blitzkrieg" (spelling) type of game>> Go for broke. Yes, he hit some unbelievable shots (running FH, etc.) but he could not sustain it.

For every running FH he hit, he would miss a ton throughout the course of a match. His FH was even close to being a rally shot. He'd go for it, and either miss or hit.

Drakulie, that's not true and you know it.Don't make me pull up the stats screen again.Why would you even lie about this?

 

[drakulie]

^^^ LOL. I've done stats of sampras ground game, and guess what??? It wasn''t as great as people make it out to be.

 

[BeHappy]

^^^ LOL. I've done stats of sampras ground game, and guess what??? It wasn''t as great as people make it out to be.

^^^LOL

You don't know how to take stats

You remember I showed you screenshots of final match statstics?

you remember Sampras's winner/unforced error ratio?

You remember you were wrong?

of course you do.

 

[drakulie]

^^^I don't think so.

Additionally, his "winner/unforced error" ratio counts aces (which aren't FH or BH in case you hadn't figured that out yet).

Go back and try again.

 

[TennisLover17]

amazing. just an amazing serve

 

[stormholloway]

Not winning the French doesn't necessarily translate to a bad ground game. Agassi only won one French and he is the best baseliner of his generation.

Sampras just doesn't take that well to clay. It's more about style of play, but he still has huge wins on clay, in Rome and in Moscow for Davis Cup.

I don't see how you say he couldn't sustain it. He won 14 slams. Sure his serve was a major part of that but you can't win that many slams and not have a great ground game. He won the Aussie twice playing a lot of baseline tennis. In fact he played a lot of baseline tennis in his career.

I agree he went for broke but that's the nature of his game. He looked for the ending. He had a very flat forehand. It's gonna go long sometimes. Stats can be deceiving.

 

[AndrewD]

Pete has always widely been accepted by most tennis players as having the Greatest Serve.

No, most people (at least, the ones who don't think tennis was invented in 1990) over the years have opted for Pancho Gonzalez as having the best serve of all time.

Personally, before I even mentioned Ivanisevic, Roddick or Karlovic (a long time before) I'd be talking about

1. Pancho Gonzalez
2. Pete Sampras
3. John Newcombe
4. Ellsworth Vines
5. Jack Kramer
6. Neale Fraser
7. John McEnroe

 

[yovi1970]

Sampras have an amazing serve, but Federer's serve is best ever.

Sampras have an amazing serve, but for me Federer's serve is best ever.

Federer's serve more balance for modern strategic or game of tennis. More option on his serve, he can stay on the baseline or suddenly on the net, verry unpredictable, he can go for ace or more kick to the backhand and dictate the game and so so so...

Federer's serve now is different. More improve now.
In motion Federer's serve more smooth and relax.

Important point Federer's serve more eazy to study and more room for improvement.
I think Federer's serve not yet at the top.

The Legend is making!