Pete Sampras-all court player

[Arafel]

Check out these highlights from the world championships in 1998. What strikes me the most is how adept Pete also was from the baseline. Yeah, everyone knows he is probably one of the top 4-5 serve/volley players ever (McEnroe, Edberg, Rafter and Laver probably round out that list), but Pete started as a baseliner, and watching these clips shows his groundies were still quite strong.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=tTiAhmRKXOo

People like to say Federer is an all court player. Maybe for this era he is, since he can volley pretty decently, but compared to Pete, Federer's net game is poor.

 

[Vision84]

That second to last point is ridiculous!

 

[edmondsm]

I totally agree with everything you said. If you want to see Samp playing from the baseline you should try and find footage of him beating Chesnokov during the Davis Cup against Russia. Unbelievable all-court tennis.

I just watched the Samp vs. Fed Wimbledon match and I can say pretty confidently that in the current game no one volleys like Pete.

 

[JackSkellington]

well, it's a highlight reel...

 

[firstservethenvolley]

That second to last point is ridiculous!

Word. How did that go in ?

 

[Young Pete]

That second to last point is ridiculous!

you beat me to what i waz about to say!

simply amazing!

 

[my_forehand]

Word. How did that go in ?

Skills baby.

 

[kaibaNYC06]

amazing ...

 

[PROTENNIS63]

Pete is actually a serve and volleyer.