montanes? gil?
montanes? gil?
jamesblakefan#1
G.O.A.T.
I was giving those as examples. To say that, if Sampras came back full time on tour right now, he'd probably lose to a lot of guys that Sampras fans couldn't imagine "the great Sampras" losing to. On hard courts, with the field as deep as it is, he'd be a sitting duck. I can name 50 guys that'd beat Pete on hard courts, half of those would do it fairly easily. We're talking about 38 yr old, hasn't played competitive tour level tennis since 2002, even back then was struggling physically, Pete Sampras. He'd catch magic every once in a while, but get embarassed more often than not.
DNShade
Hall of Fame
This would be the same Pete Sampras who beat some guy named James Blake just in December? Just checking.
Sorry...just had to. I'm not some crazy Pete fanatic either...just had to post that.
"I think one match at a time he can hang with anyone, especially on a quicker court," Blake said. "He still serves huge, hits a forehand huge and takes you out of your rhythm on your service game.
"I think you put him in a one-match situation like here today, and he can hang with the big boys. It doesn't look like too much has gone from his game."
jamesblakefan#1
G.O.A.T.
Yeah, one match at a time, that's the lightning in a bottle I was eluding to. But back on regular tour? No way he'd be beating the Blake, Roddick's, Federer's and Nadal's of the world on a regular basis. He would never hold up physically.
D
Deleted member 3771
Guest
DNShade
Hall of Fame
I know. Was just a little poke. Having a little fun. I agree with you by the way. It's one thing to come back for a couple of matches - and maybe even one full event - but full time on the tour - no.
jamesblakefan#1
G.O.A.T.
Hey, I'm not an overly sensitive Blake ****-unlike the fans of some other player's on here, who take every thing bad said about their guy as a personal attack on their character and cry all the time. That's not me, DNShade. 
Explain this. Just wondering if you think Pete would still be a top 10 player if he played full time on the tour today.
Explain this. Just wondering if you think Pete would still be a top 10 player if he played full time on the tour today.
35ft6
Legend
It's an exhibition. In exhibitions, Elton John gets to play against ATP pros. Exhibition matches mean very little. Every exhibition match I've seen was utterly predictable. They're choreographed. Saw the one with Graf and Clijsters recently and I could predict when Kim would miss.
But my bad, he still could compete at a high level in special circumstances. So he's not delusional in that respect. On a fast indoor carpet, in a best of three, if he's having a great day, he could hang and even beat a top 50 pro. I think. Grand Slam, best of 5 format, a different story. He could win a round at Wimbledon at best IMO, and I consider him the best grass court player of the Open era still. Fed is best overall player, but I give the edge to Sampras on grass for now. It's not that he suddenly sucks, but I don't see how he would be better now that he's heavier, older, slower, and rustier than his last few years of pro competition. Connors did well in his later years, but he NEVER STOPPED PLAYING.
^ Good post. People forget the 'fading years'....
Rhino
Legend
Sampras would have NO CHANCE. Are you guys kidding me?
N-O C-H-A-N-C-E.
He even lost to Cedric Pioline in December last year. Cedric Pioline!
Pioline is 40 years old and retired in 2002.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/tennis/12/06/sampras.loses.ap/index.html
How do you expect a guy that gets beaten in '08 by Pioline and McEnroe to compete on the 2009 ATP tour at 38 years old?
N-O C-H-A-N-C-E.
He even lost to Cedric Pioline in December last year. Cedric Pioline!
Pioline is 40 years old and retired in 2002.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/tennis/12/06/sampras.loses.ap/index.html
How do you expect a guy that gets beaten in '08 by Pioline and McEnroe to compete on the 2009 ATP tour at 38 years old?
D
Deleted member 3771
Guest
Federer said Sampras would be top 5 easy or was it top 3 if he joined the tour now. That seems about right. Little Santoro is still ranked 41 at age 36 1/2.
jamesblakefan#1
G.O.A.T.
Top 5 easy? Top 5 easy? If you wanna belive that, I've got some swamp land to sell to you. Surely even you, the Natural, know that Pete doesn't have the physical capability to hang around on tour long enough to make top 5, let alone beat the guys necessary to make top 5. Keep all them Pete comeback dreams in your head, b/c it ain't happenin.
''Little Santoro'' as you called him has been a consistent worker during his whole career and that's why he can still play at the top level. Like all the top atp pros he trains very hard consistently and he is still in great shape. Sampras may still be able to grab a few wins here and there, but I seriously doubt he could string a few wins at a minor tournament, let alone a slam. Top 5?? I would seriously be shocked if he got back in the top 30-40 after 6 years of not playing competitive tennis. And he would receive quite a few defeats to some lower ranked players which would only hurt his legacy. Even if fed said all those things, he was only trying to be nice. And do you really think that those wins at an exhibition match are that relevant??
vive le beau jeu !
Talk Tennis Guru
yet another post full of hatred to Elton (who would easily kick nadal's butt) from another pathetic hater.
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zagor
Bionic Poster
No I agree with TheNatural,we should take everything pros say(even after exhibitions)as the undisputable truth.So Sampras would be top 5 today but also Fed is the GOAT,cause Sampras said so,he can't deny it.
Rhino
Legend
Yes but the former pros only say things to compliment each other.
Rafter compliments Sampras. Sampras compliments Federer.
Although the Federer=GOAT argument is different anyway because that is virtually unanimous amongst former or current pros.
We need to get quotes from less polite former pros like Rios or Rusedski
If Cedric Pioline can beat Sampras in 08 in a competitive match, then he wouldn't have a chance against current pros in serious tournaments. He might be able to beat Bogdanovic if he's lucky.
thalivest
Banned
Is that why Sampras wasnt even ranked in the top 10 at only 31 and 32 years old when he was leaving the tour! You guys need to give it a rest. Pete is a legend of tennis of course but everyone gets old, it is a part of sport.
Al Czervik
Hall of Fame
I can't believe there are people who think Pete at this age, seven years off the tour, could sniff Rafa at Wimby.
T. H. Park
Professional
Don't agree there. Navratilova is an exceptional athlete. She is one of the players who revolutionized fitness as did Lendl. She was extremly fit, in shape, and still is. Her body actually looked the same throughout her career. Look at Sampras when they were young and now. There is a whole lot of difference. His mobility and stamina will be a big problem.
That's true. However, Connors played throughout until 39 (professional tourneys not senior events), Pete stopped playing professionally. Had he kept on going, who knows. But it seems to me that at the end of his career he had reached the bottom of his tank. That's why he retired. I am pretty sure he never expected that someone would equal his GS record so soon hence his thoughts about coming back. Probably.
T. H. Park
Professional
What happened to Federer? Federer holds the all-time consecutive wins on grass. He beat Sampras when he was NOT retired at Wimbledon. A few facts:
1.Sampras played awesome tennis
2.Federer just played better that day
3.Both were NOT in their primes.
4.Federer served and volleyed but also mixed it up with baseline bashing/passing
Given the above, since Fed beat Sampras on his favorite surface (tight 5 sets), how do you expect Sampras to compete at Wimbledon or any other tourney, AFTER retirement and being out of professional tennis for so long?
T. H. Park
Professional
Yup, that pretty much says it all. People have this illusion that he will be a top player if he comes back. This is sports. Not the type of sports like golf where the aerobic side of the equation is at a low rate. This sport involves, like soccer/football, a lot of running and extreme sprinting.
egn
Hall of Fame
Statement 1 ehh exhibtions. Though I think Ginerpi, Fish,Haas at their best in those exos couldn't be old Sampras, but at points you could tell Federer was holding back in the match, but then a good portion of Fed's exos with Sampras was during his "mono" spell and his rough patches. However I do agree on the skill part, I do believe at this day Sampras could score a win off Fed, sure Fed would score like 10 but the most greats at 38 can still come out an play amazing. Connors did it, Agassi did it at 35 etc. Like even if it was reversed and Fed was 38 and Sampras was 28 I could see Fed scoring a win or two off Sampras while Sampras scores like 10, great players don't lose their talent they just lose their youth.
Once again a bit unreal where was Sampras in his last year..ranked 13 or so. Sampras has not gotten better. I could picture Sampras being top 20 but not top 5 or top 3.
T. H. Park
Professional
I don't think that will be likely. Very unlikely at best. But first Sampras would have to get that far to have a glimpse at Rafa. He would most likely be eliminated early on.
Rafter4ever
New User
Rafter played Pete 2 months ago in the Seniors Tour and Pete beat Rafter, 7-6(8), 6-4. Rafter had 2 set points in the first set up 5-4. Pete hit about 8-10 aces, and if I remember correctly, no second serve aces. I really doubt Pete will be an impact if he makes a comeback 'caus fitness has always been Pete's demon.
Pete also beat McEnroe with the same score line in Boston back in February, a tight match. What do you think the score will be if one of the big 4 play against McEnore? Point is, if Pete is in top form, he would have handled McEnore and Rafter with relative ease, granted Pete is not a great returner and both are SV players.
Pete also beat McEnroe with the same score line in Boston back in February, a tight match. What do you think the score will be if one of the big 4 play against McEnore? Point is, if Pete is in top form, he would have handled McEnore and Rafter with relative ease, granted Pete is not a great returner and both are SV players.
navratilovafan
Banned
ROTFL! Haas has beaten Djokovic and nearly beaten Federer in the last year alone, has wins over a much less old Sampras in both 2001 and 2002 yet you dont think he could beat a nearly 40 year old Sampras at his best? Please. Even 31 year old Haas would wipe the floor with 38 year old Sampras if he really tried. Fish probably would win if he went all out to. Only the washed up now challenger player Ginepri would the current Pete have a hope vs in a serious match.
egn
Hall of Fame
True but I do think they would need to put their best into it to beat him, I don't think 31 year old Haas would wipe the floor with 38 year old Sampras.
navratilovafan
Banned
Andres
G.O.A.T.
Tell that to Söderling at the FRENCH OPEN.
Claudius
Professional
Soderling is an absolute ball crusher, and so he can overpower his opponents. Sampras does have strong strokes, but they're not massive and also, his movement has declined a bit.
Everyone thinks Soderling hits extremely flat, but I've watched him court level at RG and his balls do have a lot of movement. It seems to me his balls are heavy with topspin but have a low trajectory.
Winners or Errors
Legend
+1
After watching Todd Martin demolish John McEnroe in a seniors match not too long ago, I think it's a bit silly to say anything about Sampras, McEnroe, Rafter, or any of these old guys. They're just old. I'm old. When I play against guys in their 20s, I know they will be less likely to get injured, more likely to go longer because they don't get as sore, and if everything is equal that I better darned well get them off the court fast, because the third set is usually theirs....
T. H. Park
Professional
I agree. If Haas and Sampras played 10 matches in a real professional setting (rankings, points, lots of money), the majority would be won by Haas.
Cyan
Hall of Fame
Pete thinks this current era is such a mug era that even a 38 year old ex supergreat would win Wimbledon :shock:
T. H. Park
Professional
Why not bring Borg back? Well, we know what happened when Borg came back when he was 36 years old in 1992. Here are some facts:
0.He played for a full year
1.He did not win a SINGLE match.
2.He did not wing a single SET.
3.The highest ranked player he could challenge due to his 1st round losses was no. 22.
4.He was bagled left and right and got some breadsticks by players as low as 196.
Something similar will happen to Sampras if comes back. He knows this. That is why he is not going to embarrass himself. Smart.
0.He played for a full year
1.He did not win a SINGLE match.
2.He did not wing a single SET.
3.The highest ranked player he could challenge due to his 1st round losses was no. 22.
4.He was bagled left and right and got some breadsticks by players as low as 196.
Something similar will happen to Sampras if comes back. He knows this. That is why he is not going to embarrass himself. Smart.
Fearsome Forehand
Professional
As a Sampras fan who suffered watching him lose regularly in the last two years of his career, I hope he doesn't come back. Pete was very fortunate to be able to go out on a high note by winning the 2002 US Open (which was the first tournament he had won in two years.) That seemed a fitting end to his great career.
Men's pro tennis is very much a young man's game. Pete should not attempt a comeback. He should confine himself to the Old Fart/Hit and Giggle Tour and the occasional exhibition match against a top player.
Besides, if Pete announces he will play at Wimbledon, George Bastl may decide to mount a comeback, too.
Men's pro tennis is very much a young man's game. Pete should not attempt a comeback. He should confine himself to the Old Fart/Hit and Giggle Tour and the occasional exhibition match against a top player.
Besides, if Pete announces he will play at Wimbledon, George Bastl may decide to mount a comeback, too.
T. H. Park
Professional
Good post. He is not stupid and knows this. Media is trying to make it interesting. I like your Bastl comment. Heck, might as well bring back all those players (not too many) who have a winning record against Pete while we're at it.
zagor
Bionic Poster
Not the same exactly as Borg cameback with a wooden racquet but in general I agree with you.Pete retired 6-7 years ago,coming back now especially with all slow surfaces today,he would probably not do good.
thalivest
Banned
One thing that is predictable is people will always hype comebacks to end up going better than they will. I remember before Hingis came back the dumb hype she would return to winning slams now that the Williams were not at their best anymore, and citing ridiculous examples like her head to heads with Mauresmo, Clijsters, and Henin when they were not anywhere near their 2006 levels and when Hingis was at her peak. As it turned out not only did she get owned by Mauresmo, Clijsters, Henin, and Sharapova, something like 1-10 vs that foursome who her comeback boosters predicted her to do well against, but she was even regularly beaten by players like Patty Schynder whom in her prime she owned. Such stupidity that people were predicting her to fare better than when she left the game in 2002, when she was already past her peak by that time.
I remember before Davenport came back some predicted she could win slams vs the current field. How inaccurate that turned out to be to.
A cold hard rule, aging or players clearly past their primes already when they last retired will never do better upon their return than they did then. They will in fact do worse, gauranted.
I remember before Davenport came back some predicted she could win slams vs the current field. How inaccurate that turned out to be to.
A cold hard rule, aging or players clearly past their primes already when they last retired will never do better upon their return than they did then. They will in fact do worse, gauranted.
If he plays WTA draw.
thor's hammer
Semi-Pro
Did you see the Nadal/Soderling match at this year's French? That's is *exactly* how to beat a topspin baseliner!
Also...
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=S402&oId=M099
T. H. Park
Professional
Yes, they are very different players but basically the best in their era for sure. Pete went out on a high note and should keep it that way even if Fed is challenging his records. If they are broken then they were meant to be broken. Does not mean that one should come out of retirement in one's late 30s and hope for the best in an illusionist personal world. That is naive. Pete does not strike me as a naive individual. Fans can be naive. But they are allowed to dream ...
aceroberts13
Professional
Sampras may make it to the 2nd round, if there's going to be a Disney movie dose of magic involved, the 3rd round. Beyond that I think players would have to start laying down for him.
Devilito
Legend
if anyone could have made a Jimmy Connors type run at Wimbledon it would have to be Pete.... 2 years ago. He's waiting to long to make any sort of comeback, even for fun at 1 or 2 tournaments. It would be cool to see him one last time at the big show. I think he still has the tools to beat some players on gras, but he'd need a pretty sweet draw.
if this is true that heavy hitting cannot beat top spin hitting of guys outside top 100
which obviously means prime sampras wouldnt be anywhere near top 100 today???
zagor
Bionic Poster
I agree with your sentiment in general.Just saying that Borg came back with a wooden racquet in a graphite era,that was suicide.I think Sampras would have done better than Borg but probably very bad as well.
