Sampras had abnormally long arms though. It's like in basketball. They don't just measure a player's height in pre-draft camps, they measure their wing span. I mean you literally have some shorter players like Marcus Banks who practically have a seven footer's wingspan. That can definitely make a difference in getting your shot off, length on defense, steals, blocks, etc. It's the same in tennis in a way, long arms mean more leverage.
Also, Sampras actually made contact with the ball about 2 or 3 inches higher than the noticeably taller Rusedski on the serve from what I recall from a Tennis One analysis.
So although he might not have been the tallest guy, his actual point of contact was certainly high enough.
As far as Rochus goes, he's an incredibly fiesty and game player. If you're not 100% ready to play or confident, he's gonna eat you up.
I think he goes for his shots more than Chang, and is every bit as fast...albeit without Chang EXTENSIVE reach, lol. I don't think he's as consistent as Chang though.
What they really share in common though is that they'll fight you till they've broken your will.
Moya definitely did not have his best stuff today, but as is always the case with him, when he doesn't have his best stuff, he doesn't give his best fight. He's a tennis "pretty boy," in my opinion. Fights hard only when he's on. When he's not, he looks hapless and uninspired and lackadaisical as he did today. Sure, he did not tank, but a mediocre effort is a mediocre effort no matter how spin it or look at it. On this day, Rochus simply wanted it more. Rochus WILLED his way to victory as Chang in his prime so often did.
Had Moya dug deeper, he would have won this even not at his best HITTING level.
As far as Rochus' backhand goes, I think he can clonk it and is able to defend pretty darn well with it from precarious positions given his height. It's amazing that at his height he can handle Moya's heavy top as well as he does. Did you see that killer backhand approach on match point? That was high for him, but he stepped in and charged right through it, attacking all the way. That is about as a hard a shot to coordinate and hit as it gets for a one-hander, and he executed it like it was nothing, like he had been doing it his whole life...which is why I'm a little dissapointed in McEnroe saying that Rochus isn't as talented as Moya. ...HELLO?
Rochus does more with his tiny frame than quite possibly any player his height EVER has on the tour level. Heck, Rochus was originally listed at 5'4" when he first came up, so who knows if 5'5" is even an accurate, maybe it's just an exaggeration like Chang's height was?
Rochus and his brother Christophe are two of the most talented, electric, pound for pound, tennis players out there...their timing and racket head speed are simply phenomenal. It's like in the NBA, you have to be THAT much more talented to compensate if you're short...just look at that little waterbug Earl Boykins and tell me he's not as talented as a budding star like the TOWERING Tony Parker (lol)...sure he is, he's just nowhere as tall.
It's like with Arazi and Federer. They always say Federer is just a more talented version of him when they play, and I don't buy that. I think it's more a case of Arazi is a SHORTER version of him.
To me, they're exactly the same player with exactly the same attributes and exactly the same athleticism and exactly the same mental failities and vulnerabilities...it's just that Arazi's not as tall, and hence doesn't have quite as much power, or reach at net, or margin for error on the serve or on his groundies...but other than that, yes, they are the same from a pure and raw talent standpoint.
