pete sampras : retirement has taken its toll on his skills article.....

[FedSampras]

Pete Sampras says he won't attempt comeback to competitive tennis
2 hours ago

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Pete Sampras said Wednesday he is not planning a comeback to competitive tennis, stressing that retirement has taken its toll on his skills.

Sampras lost to Roger Federer, the world's top-ranked player, 4-6, 3-6 in an exhibition match Tuesday in South Korea, and has no illusions about turning the tables on the Swiss star in another showpiece in Malaysia on Thursday.

"I have been retired for five years now and to play the world No. 1 and someone who is at the peak of his game is not easy," Sampras told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

"The hard part is to raise my game to a level to match Roger and it's not easy unless you are playing constantly," Sampras said. "But I did OK (in Seoul, South Korea) although I must admit I am older and certainly not any sharper."

The 36-year-old 'Pistol Pete', who won a record 14 Grand Slams, added that "a comeback to top level competitive tennis is definitely not on the cards."

Federer, who is a decade younger than Sampras, maintained that Sampras "didn't embarrass himself" in Seoul.

"People sometimes tend to forget the past greats and remember only the present. For me Sampras is one of the greatest names in tennis," Federer said. "Believe me, he still has a fair bit to offer."

Sampras retired in 2002, a year after his only previous meeting with Federer at Wimbledon 2001. Federer, who has won 12 Grand Slam titles, won that fourth round match in five sets.

On Tuesday, all the familiar trademark volleys and serves were on display, but Sampras was slower around the court than in his heyday, and he made a number of unforced errors.

They will play the last of their three Asian exhibitions in Macau on Saturday.

 

[Mick]

if Sampras and Federer join force and play doubles, they would be a very formidable team: Both have a great serve and an unbelievable net game. Furthermore, 36 is too old for singles but not for doubles.

 

[BreakPoint]

if Sampras and Federer join force and play doubles, they would be a very formidable team: Both have a great serve and an unbelievable net game. Furthermore, 36 is too old for singles but not for doubles.

That is very true.

 

[Deleted member 3771]

If you consider that he took 5 years off, and only played a couple of tournaments this year, then it's normal for anyones skill level to diminish.

If you told Federer he could only play 2 small tournaments next year-lets say 2 futures or 2 challenger tournaments, then told him he had to play Sampras at the end of the year then it would also take it's toll on his skill level.

Constant competitive play at the highest level is the key to maintaining skill level and staying sharp.

 

[zagor]

if Sampras and Federer join force and play doubles, they would be a very formidable team: Both have a great serve and an unbelievable net game. Furthermore, 36 is too old for singles but not for doubles.

I second that Sampras could definitely still be a force in doubles.Just look at McEnroe winning San Jose at the age of 47 even though he is probably the best doubles player ever.

 

[Mike Bulgakov]

Sampras still has his serve and forehand, and his backhand is better with his larger frame and the poly strings. He seemed to lack touch on his volley in the exhibition match.

Sampras was very quick, especially at net, during his prime. Much of his greatness was predicated on his quick and agile movement. With this gone, the exhibitions in Asia are about Federer playing the shots to keep the matches interesting.

 

[quest01]

I watched the exo between Federer and Sampras and Sampras was definitely rusty. His forehand was off, and his volleys just wasnt there that day. Everytime he went to line up a forehand he ended up hitting the middle of the net or ended up going 3 feet long. I thought Sampras had a chance to win the first set when he got the break but right when Federer got the break back I knew Sampras was in trouble. It was a decent match even though there werent many rallies. Thats kind of typical though when watching a match with Sampras.

 

[Mick]

Sampras was no match for Federer but do you guys think he has a chance of winning against a lower ranked player, somebody like Donald Young ?

 

[Fee]

Based on his team tennis results, no. He's alluded to that in his interviews this week, talking about the power of the current game. He's not in the type of shape he would need to be in to handle the power these guys dish out and I can see him losing any match that goes to 3 sets. There are a bunch of guys ranked between 100 and 200 that might be thrown off by Pete coming in and attacking all the time, but they would probably get over it in time to start passing him left and right while he still trying to get into position.

He's not coming back, he just doesn't have the game anymore, he's said so himself. These exhibitions are reinforcing that reality, not changing it.

 

[RoddickistheMan]

Sampras was no match for Federer but do you guys think he has a chance of winning against a lower ranked player, somebody like Donald Young ?

Are you kidding. I saw the video and sampras looked great. When his balls were in bounds he played federer pretty well. The reason he lost that match was mainly due to errors which is expected due to the lack of play. If you watch the points on samprass serve he did pretty well. I think he could take out anyone other than federer the way hes playing right now. If he gets into shape he could take out federer on the grass with his serve and volley game which looked like it game federer problems. His serve is still the best mens serve in the game right now with its accuracy and placement. Sampras' court movement which may look bad still is better than roddicks and his groundstrokes are as well. If you compare sampras to other players other than federer hes pretty damn good still.
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[JW10S]

Based on his team tennis results, no. He's alluded to that in his interviews this week, talking about the power of the current game. He's not in the type of shape he would need to be in to handle the power these guys dish out and I can see him losing any match that goes to 3 sets. There are a bunch of guys ranked between 100 and 200 that might be thrown off by Pete coming in and attacking all the time, but they would probably get over it in time to start passing him left and right while he still trying to get into position.

He's not coming back, he just doesn't have the game anymore, he's said so himself. These exhibitions are reinforcing that reality, not changing it.

True, this year in WTT Sampras lost to Niemeyer (ATP rank 174) and De Voest (ATP rank 129) and had only a 47% game winning average in a league that is made up of has beens and wannabes.

 

[35ft6]

I second that Sampras could definitely still be a force in doubles.Just look at McEnroe winning San Jose at the age of 47 even though he is probably the best doubles player ever.

Doubles is a very different game. On top of that, I don't think Sampras would even have the interest needed to be good at doubles.

 

[ckthegreek]

He knows that like Mcenroe and Graf did a while back, if he can find a decent partner he can be really good and win matches.

It's simple. He will hold easily when he serves and put away all volleys when his partner serves.

And the 10-point TB in the 3rd favours his type of game.

 

[zagor]

Doubles is a very different game. On top of that, I don't think Sampras would even have the interest needed to be good at doubles.

Yes I know that it reguires different skills but Sampras with his serve and volleys would always be dangerous in doubles.Although you may be right that Sampras would not be able to dedicate himself to doubles.

 

[Young Pete]

Sampras Needs To Go Back And Swing That The Ps85 St. Vincent I Guarantee You Ten Fold He Would Win That Match Against Fed. All That Ncode / Kfactor Stuff Is Garbage. Seriously I Believe That The Ps 85 Sv Is An Important Part Of Pistol Pete's Game.

 

[ericsson]

I'm very surprised Pete did that well, i mean come on, where does he have to hurt Roger, at the baseline? dont think so, come to the net? yes if you have a really good serve and approach otherwise FORGET IT, the fact that Pete was a break up and lead 4-2 shows Roger wasn't playing around i think, anyway kudos to Pete, must have served really good...

 

[BreakPoint]

Doubles is a very different game. On top of that, I don't think Sampras would even have the interest needed to be good at doubles.

Sampras not good at doubles? He only won the doubles tie in both the last two times that the U.S. won the Davis Cup in '92 and '95.

 

[Azzurri]

if Sampras and Federer join force and play doubles, they would be a very formidable team: Both have a great serve and an unbelievable net game. Furthermore, 36 is too old for singles but not for doubles.

what are the chances Fed and Pete play doubles together (the Pacific Life Open)? They would be so dominating. Their serves would be too much for most other doubles team to handle.

 

[Phil]

I second that Sampras could definitely still be a force in doubles.Just look at McEnroe winning San Jose at the age of 47 even though he is probably the best doubles player ever.

But to "still" be a force in doubles implies that one was, previously, a force in doubles-Sampras never was. He didn't play a lot of doubles, and when he did, he and his teammates often went down to doubles "specialists". McEnroe was the greatest male doubles player in the history of the sport and Navratilova, who also won a pro title in her late 40's, was the greatest female doubs player ever. They both had a doubles foundation that was still there. Not so with Pete. I think he'd get his ass handed to him if he came back to play on the tour.

 

[zagor]

But to "still" be a force in doubles implies that one was, previously, a force in doubles-Sampras never was. He didn't play a lot of doubles, and when he did, he and his teammates often went down to doubles "specialists". McEnroe was the greatest male doubles player in the history of the sport and Navratilova, who also won a pro title in her late 40's, was the greatest female doubs player ever. They both had a doubles foundation that was still there. Not so with Pete. I think he'd get his ass handed to him if he came back to play on the tour.

I know Sampras didn't play a lot of doubles in his career but I think it was partly because he was so focused on his singles career,it takes a special kind of player like Mcenroe to dominate both singles and doubles like he did in 1984.What I meant was that Sampras returned to doubles he could still do some damage as opposed to singles where the best of five matches and slower surfaces would stop him.

 

[Phil]

I know Sampras didn't play a lot of doubles in his career but I think it was partly because he was so focused on his singles career,it takes a special kind of player like Mcenroe to dominate both singles and doubles like he did in 1984.What I meant was that Sampras returned to doubles he could still do some damage as opposed to singles where the best of five matches and slower surfaces would stop him.

Well sure that's the reason that he didn't play much doubs, but all the same, he didn't play much. I would LOVE to see him make a go at it, but if he wasn't really a doubs player in his prime, I don't see him all of the sudden at age 36 morphing into Leander Paes with a big serve. True, he might do some damage there, but I don't think a Pete Sampras, personality-wise, could ever put himself in the position of coming back as a doubs player　just to be back on a pro court in such a reduced capacity. Mac did it because he COULD...plus, I'm sure his ego was egging him along. Same deal, probably, for Martina.

 

[zagor]

Well sure that's the reason that he didn't play much doubs, but all the same, he didn't play much. I would LOVE to see him make a go at it, but if he wasn't really a doubs player in his prime, I don't see him all of the sudden at age 36 morphing into Leander Paes with a big serve. True, he might do some damage there, but I don't think a Pete Sampras, personality-wise, could ever put himself in the position of coming back as a doubs player　just to be back on a pro court in such a reduced capacity. Mac did it because he COULD...plus, I'm sure his ego was egging him along. Same deal, probably, for Martina.

To be honest I would like to see him comeback in any way-even as a doubles player but of course that is very unlikely.I also think Sampras could never get fired up for a doubles match-it's just not in him he's not a great team player,he likes to fight one on one.
Sampras would probably make a comeback only if he feels like he could win another slam,and with Wimbledon being so slow now he would not even be able to serve his way through matches like Goran did in 2001.

 

[drakulie]

Maybe if Sampras had played with a Rolex on, he would have competed better.

 

[BiGGieStuFF]

Sampras serve would be somewhat neutralized in doubles considering he can only serve 1 out of 4 games instead of 1 out of 2 games. I don't think he had much success when he did play doubles. I remember something about his backhand being a liability in doubles. I can't remember it off the top of my head.

 

[Deleted member 3771]

now hes only good enough to be #5 instead of #1. With a bit of competitive match play he could challenge for #1.

He likes bashing serves and volleys and genereally just bashing the ball, so he'd get bored standing around if he played doubles.