Pete Speaks on Oz Final

marc45

marc45

G.O.A.T.
was waiting for pete's response even before the match...knew his phone had to start ringing (i'm convinced he and bridgette must lose sleep when phone rings in the middle of the night with reporters wanting to talk about roger chasing his record).......and for any fed fans that still have some mistaken notion that pete can't handle fed breaking his record, that he's angry, etc. this article should once and for all set you straight...and for rafa fans, i sense an increasing respect for him and his game from pete...it's very different obviously, so it probably took him a little time to truly appreciate it, and i do believe pete's a generous, but still pretty tough critic of all players, including himself...it's just roger has risen to the top of his pack www.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/aus09/news/story?id3873552 click on sampras says federer more dominant player right under headlines on right side of page
 
Frankauc said:
lol. I dont think he will really miss that final live.
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not buying the children to bed routine, huh?...actually pete said he woke up for the third set of the wimbledon final so don't be so sure...we probably watch alot more tennis, including the big matches, than pete....he just takes the phone calls from the ap before and after....and the way fed's going those calls will probably stop before long
 
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Frankauc said:
lol. I dont think he will really miss that final live.
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Neither do I. I thought he said he wanted to be there when Roger was going for #15 as a sign of respect, and now all of the sudden he wouldn't even go to Wimbledon (assuming Roger gets 14)? What's the deal with that?
 
Chopin said:
Neither do I. I thought he said he wanted to be there when Roger was going for #15 as a sign of respect, and now all of the sudden he wouldn't even go to Wimbledon (assuming Roger gets 14)? What's the deal with that?
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he said he wasn't sure, he didn't say no...he does have a family you know and there's no guarantee fed will win a final...i don't think pete has to follow fed around the globe waiting to shake his hand if he doesn't want to...he's not a lackey and he's already established that he and fed are friends and the whole point of the article is to convey pete's respect for fed (and rafa) and yet you still find fault...geez, the guy really can't win
 
marc45 said:
was waiting for pete's response even before the match...knew his phone had to start ringing (i'm convinced he and bridgette must lose sleep when phone rings in the middle of the night with reporters wanting to talk about roger chasing his record).......and for any fed fans that still have some mistaken notion that pete can't handle fed breaking his record, that he's angry, etc. this article should once and for all set you straight...and for rafa fans, i sense an increasing respect for him and his game from pete...it's very different obviously, so it probably took him a little time to truly appreciate it, and i do believe pete's a generous, but still pretty tough critic of all players, including himself...it's just roger has risen to the top of his pack www.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/aus09/news/story?id3873552 click on sampras says federer more dominant player right under headlines on right side of page
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there's really no problem with sampras himself, but his fans here certainly were the problem.
 
well, fans are short for fanatics, and pete has his as do roger and rafa...i have to say as a pete fan who has gained respect for agassi over time for instance, he has made it easier to accept roger breaking his record by being so gentlemanly and professional ....when it does happen i would like to see roger add one davis cup...pete had two of those and they shouldn't be forgotten as part of a tennis resume (i think one for switzerland equals two for u.s.)...and of course he could put all debate aside with a win at roland garros
 
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marc45 said:
well, fans are short for fanatics, and pete has his as do roger and rafa...i have to say as a pete fan who has gained respect for agassi over time for instance, he has made it easier to accept roger breaking his record by being so gentlemanly and professional ....when it does happen i would like to see roger add one davis cup...pete had two of those and they shouldn't be forgotten as part of a tennis resume (i think one for switzerland equals two for u.s.)...and of course he could put all debate aside with a win at roland garros
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Totally off topic, but you might be the only other NEO person on here. How are you liking this lovely weather we've had lately?

On topic, it's hilarious how Sampras puts his own name in for 4 greatest. Pure balls.:)
 
well, what can we do but get through it and head to spring...i'll have to say every year the oz open hits with those great summer scenes i get kind of jealous, but excited...though i hear they have lots of problems down there with drought, fires, water restrictions...heard this horrible story down there today...some guy got out of his car on a bridge and threw his young child off the bridge in full view of everyone...so every place has its challenges...yes, pete can be very direct, particularly in print interviews...people think he has nothing to say, or doesn't say it in interesting ways, but they would be wrong...and he has never said he was the best, just wanted to be mentioned...and the four he named would be very high on anybody's list...i do think maybe it's a little dig at his fellow americans mac and connors (not so much agassi-their head to head speaks to that, despite andre's french, which i greatly admire)making himself the only american on that list...i'm sure tilden, kramer, budge, and gonzales fans might have something to say about it too
 
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marc45 said:
he said he wasn't sure, he didn't say no...he does have a family you know and there's no guarantee fed will win a final...i don't think pete has to follow fed around the globe waiting to shake his hand if he doesn't want to...he's not a lackey and he's already established that he and fed are friends and the whole point of the article is to convey pete's respect for fed (and rafa) and yet you still find fault...geez, the guy really can't win
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I wasn't being critical. I just remember him saying that he wanted to be there at #14 when and if it happened as a sign of respect. That's all. I don't expect him to be there or think that he needs to be, of course. I was just curious if he changed his mind for some reason.

Though I have to admit I don't particularly like Sampras. I always found his game pretty boring to watch and wouldn't say I'm ideologically in line with the guy. Also, he was never much of an ambassador for the sport. Federer was (is?) a far better #1 as far as promoting the game, serving as the president of the player's council, and doing charity work off the court. Sampras is fine, but he's certainly no Roger or Andre.
 
good article, i still think pete will be a bit pist, but not so much as to being a whinger. records are there to be broken and finally someone might be able to break it. :D
 
pete is definitely a glory chaser. i saw him on leno acouple of years ago and he was saying stuff 'i was the greatest tennis player' in a not kidding kind of way.

in think inside he's gotta be dying a little.
 
Sampras: "I give Federer the edge in the final".

No sh*!t, Sherlock....Nadal looked totally gone during the morning following his semi-final.
 
marc45 said:
was waiting for pete's response even before the match...knew his phone had to start ringing (i'm convinced he and bridgette must lose sleep when phone rings in the middle of the night with reporters wanting to talk about roger chasing his record).......and for any fed fans that still have some mistaken notion that pete can't handle fed breaking his record, that he's angry, etc. this article should once and for all set you straight...and for rafa fans, i sense an increasing respect for him and his game from pete...it's very different obviously, so it probably took him a little time to truly appreciate it, and i do believe pete's a generous, but still pretty tough critic of all players, including himself...it's just roger has risen to the top of his pack www.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/aus09/news/story?id3873552 click on sampras says federer more dominant player right under headlines on right side of page
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I would wait until Roger breaks Pete's record rather than equal it, for some kind of recognition from Pete.
 
The-Champ said:
I'm pretty sure Pete wants Rafa to win this one, and prays that Roger gets injured the rest of the season.
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Why? Because some of his fans may wish that upon Roger? Sampras may have always been classified as boring or whatever but I always considered him to be a fair guy and a true proffesional.I'm sure he wouldn't mind keeping the slam record but I also sincerely doubt that he's losing that much sleep over it,let alone wishing for Fed to get injuried(I mean c'mon)or anything similar to that.I remember last year listening to some Pete's interview and the guy said something to the effect that he played his best match ever against Agassi in 2000 Wimbledon final or something like that,the guy can't even get the friggin year right(yet most of us tennis fans here could be woken in the middle of the night and we'd still know it was '99 final if you asked us).I'm pretty sure that most of us die hard tennis fans(especially his fans)here have better recollection of Pete's various records,matches and stats during his career than he himself does.The guy retired 6 years ago and has a beautiful wife and 2(?)kids,I'm sure he's quite happy with his career and life in general.I can buy that he's "maybe" rooting for Rafa to win this one but wishing any injury or ilness to fall upon Fed? Hell no.
 
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Records are meant to broken and if there is anyone who deserves to break Sampras' record it is Federer. Sampras should realize this...
 
BallzofSkill said:
pete is definitely a glory chaser. i saw him on leno acouple of years ago and he was saying stuff 'i was the greatest tennis player' in a not kidding kind of way.

in think inside he's gotta be dying a little.
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Thank you. I've said as much before and gotten shouted down by the Sampras jock sniffers. This 'regular guy, humble Pete' persona is a fictional creation. He was just as egomaniacal as Johnny Mac or Connors (just didn't behave badly on court). I still remember the famous Tennis Mag title, something like 'Anatomy of a Pissed Off Champion' - Pete and some of his people were delusional enough to think he deserved the same amount of press as Michael Jordan.

I don't have a problem with Pete not showing up in Melbourne for the tie - long way to go if it doesn't happen. But if Fed is in the final at Wimby going for 15 and Pete isn't there then I'll have to call 'chickensh*t'.
 
BallzofSkill said:
pete is definitely a glory chaser. i saw him on leno acouple of years ago and he was saying stuff 'i was the greatest tennis player' in a not kidding kind of way.

in think inside he's gotta be dying a little.
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didn't read the article, huh?...or simply won't accept the truth in it......and glory tends to chase guys who are the very best at what they do.... even now, pete's not calling these reporters up (and of course if he told them he'd rather not talk about roger breaking his record then he's being insulting to roger and the game)...you got him right where you want him either way
 
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West Coast Ace said:
Thank you. I've said as much before and gotten shouted down by the Sampras jock sniffers. This 'regular guy, humble Pete' persona is a fictional creation. He was just as egomaniacal as Johnny Mac or Connors (just didn't behave badly on court). I still remember the famous Tennis Mag title, something like 'Anatomy of a Pissed Off Champion' - Pete and some of his people were delusional enough to think he deserved the same amount of press as Michael Jordan.

I don't have a problem with Pete not showing up in Melbourne for the tie - long way to go if it doesn't happen. But if Fed is in the final at Wimby going for 15 and Pete isn't there then I'll have to call 'chickensh*t'.
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is fed egomaniacal too, rafa?...any top-ranked player?....or just the yanks?
 
Chopin said:
I wasn't being critical. I just remember him saying that he wanted to be there at #14 when and if it happened as a sign of respect. That's all. I don't expect him to be there or think that he needs to be, of course. I was just curious if he changed his mind for some reason.

Though I have to admit I don't particularly like Sampras. I always found his game pretty boring to watch and wouldn't say I'm ideologically in line with the guy. Also, he was never much of an ambassador for the sport. Federer was (is?) a far better #1 as far as promoting the game, serving as the president of the player's council, and doing charity work off the court. Sampras is fine, but he's certainly no Roger or Andre.
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could watch pete serve all day long, a beautiful thing...as were the running forehand winners, great volleys, and jumping overheads....great athleticism mixed with great competitive instinct, wrapped in a classy package is fine by me......and i do agree pete was less an ambassador than roger or andre in terms of interviews, pr outings and the like, but his game spoke loudly, he was the backbone of the sport for years as others (agassi, becker) wandered in and out of full competition...he also did many charitable outings (gullickson, elton john)
 
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I dont think that Pete will mind too much when the record is tied, and most likely, eventually broken. It would be great to see him there when either of those happen, especially if Federer was to break it at Wimbledon. But I'm not quite sure i'd believe it would be totally for his own personaly reasons. I would have to think that it would be a more as a media push. Wimbledon and the BBC would definitely be calling him up and pleading with him to come over. Much like the whole thing with Borg in 07, for those of you who saw the BBC coverage. Although I think Pete and Borg both seem like amazingly genuine and humble guys, with respect for the game and Federer, I cant help but feel its all been put on for an 'event'.

Also adding that I think you should try and read Pete's autobiography. Some great insights in there as to how he sees things and what his opinions are. Ofcourse there will always be some people that will still twist those words but I'm going to ignore them.
 
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marc45 said:
is fed egomaniacal too, rafa?...any top-ranked player?....or just the yanks?
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Fed is too - to some extent. You almost have to be to be at the top for a long time. But I don't hear Fed whining about not getting as much press as LeBron James or Peyton Manning. Rafa hasn't been there long enough - and he's so humble, if his knees don't give out, his humility might keep him from maintaining #1 for an extended period.

Oh, and I'd call Borg an egomaniac too. Just look what happened - once he was clearly passed by JMac, he ran off like a little kid - his ego was too big to be happy being #2...

Somewhat amused by your other comment about Sampras' 'great athleticism' - he wasn't the most amazing mover. Nothing like Fed. And his groundstrokes were nothing to brag about - sure he hit some flashy FH winners - missed a ton of easy shots too (read about the '98 match against Kucera at the AO if you are in denial). If his athleticism and groundies were that good, he would have won an RG - or at least gotten into a final without a ticket... :)
 
Ocean Drive said:
Safin hardly plays of the style Nadal does...
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Whose fault is it Nadal plays that style? Most people have always been saying his style makes him liable to breaking down etc. So now don't use that as an excuse for him not winning. That is just an overall con in his game. It's like Federer using French being a slow surface as an excuse to losing to Nadal at FO. That's nonsense. It's just a con in Fed's game not being as good on slow surfaces as Nadal.
 
NamRanger said:
Except Nadal ran half way across Australia.
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maybe

but if he is as fit as his fans claim, he should have no problems.

there have been numerous examples of guys able to play consecutive 5 setters.

lapentti, costa

even federer did well in rome 06 having gone the distance against almagro, nalbandian and nadal consecutively.
 
World Beater said:
maybe

but if he is as fit as his fans claim, he should have no problems.

there have been numerous examples of guys able to play consecutive 5 setters.

lapentti, costa

even federer did well in rome 06 having gone the distance against almagro, nalbandian and nadal consecutively.
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but at that time federer was 24 years old and could handle matches like that
 
R_Federer said:
Ya so if a 24 year old Federer was able to cope with such scenarios at 24 then a 22 year old Nadal should also be if he wants to be even mentioned in the greatest list.
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yes exactly but unlike federer's dominance competition wont pop up at strange and surprising times nadal will have players on his level throughout his whole career
 
West Coast Ace said:
Fed is too - to some extent. You almost have to be to be at the top for a long time. But I don't hear Fed whining about not getting as much press as LeBron James or Peyton Manning. Rafa hasn't been there long enough - and he's so humble, if his knees don't give out, his humility might keep him from maintaining #1 for an extended period.

Oh, and I'd call Borg an egomaniac too. Just look what happened - once he was clearly passed by JMac, he ran off like a little kid - his ego was too big to be happy being #2...

Somewhat amused by your other comment about Sampras' 'great athleticism' - he wasn't the most amazing mover. Nothing like Fed. And his groundstrokes were nothing to brag about - sure he hit some flashy FH winners - missed a ton of easy shots too (read about the '98 match against Kucera at the AO if you are in denial). If his athleticism and groundies were that good, he would have won an RG - or at least gotten into a final without a ticket... :)
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another joker.

For a second marc45 probably thought he was talking to someone reasonable.
 
bolo said:
another joker.

For a second marc45 probably thought he was talking to someone reasonable.
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thanks bolo......yeah, pete wasn't athletic...his movement was greatly underrated or simply lost beneath all the power...obviously he never learned to slide on the clay, like most of the americans, but he covered the court like a panther during his prime, and i'm still waiting for someone to match the jumping overhead (though i think rafa's come closest)...and btw, fed might want to consider playing a little more like pete against rafa, particularly on return of serve.....so passive...why not take a crack at the ball on break points, particularly on second serve?...yeah you'll hit some out, but simply getting the return in play and starting another rally with the speedy human backboard is a recipe for failure...pete would swing away and connect enough that rafa wouldn't be nearly as comfortable on serve...and , oh yeah, continually serving bombs over the course of a match or tournament and humbling the best returners of serve requires athleticism too, but that's always considered something he almost had to apologize for..."if sampras didn't have his serve.."
 
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seffina said:
Tsonga? Although his is more slam dunk style.
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agree.....i'm glad you mentioned him seffina...i'm a huge pete fan, as you can probably tell, but when i saw what tsonga did last year at oz i said to myself this guy is the closest to pete i or the tour has seen since he retired...and yet it seemed like becker was the guy they were comparing him too (and maybe others) because of his build, and he does remind you of becker too, but i really thought of pete and i still haven't heard anyone make the comparison yet, even with his run this year too...let's hope he can stay healthy and make some runs elsewhere...the sport could really use his unique style and flair to be making regular appearances in the later rounds of the big tourneys
 
marc45 said:
agree.....i'm glad you mentioned him seffina...i'm a huge pete fan, as you can probably tell, but when i saw what tsonga did last year at oz i said to myself this guy is the closest to pete i or the tour has seen since he retired...and yet it seemed like becker was the guy they were comparing him too (and maybe others) because of his build, and he does remind you of becker too, but i really thought of pete and i still haven't heard anyone make the comparison yet, even with his run this year too...let's hope he can stay healthy and make some runs elsewhere...the sport could really use his unique style and flair to be making regular appearances in the later rounds of the big tourneys
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Actually,the same thing popped to my mind as well while I was watching Tsonga during 2008 AO.I think several people made the comparison here(including myself)but you probably missed it since so many threads here are about Fed/Nadal/Sampras and other players tend to be neglected.I always classified Sampras and Becker as all-court power players,I never considered a prime Sampras or Becker to be pure serve and volleyers and I defintiely agree that Tsonga is as close as it gets today to Sampras's game.He's my favourite player on tour to watch after Fed so first of all I hope he stays healthy the whole year(something that almost never happened in his case as each year was plagued by various injuries)and works more on his fitness,the guy could definitely be a dark horse at Wimbledon and USO.Wish him all the best,very entertainig game,really stands out today with all pure baseline players around.
 
zagor said:
Actually,the same thing popped to my mind as well while I was watching Tsonga during 2008 AO.I think several people made the comparison here(including myself)but you probably missed it since so many threads here are about Fed/Nadal/Sampras and other players tend to be neglected.I always classified Sampras and Becker as all-court power players,I never considered a prime Sampras or Becker to be pure serve and volleyers and I defintiely agree that Tsonga is as close as it gets today to Sampras's game.He's my favourite player on tour to watch after Fed so first of all I hope he stays healthy the whole year(something that almost never happened in his case as each year was plagued by various injuries)and works more on his fitness,the guy could definitely be a dark horse at Wimbledon and USO.Wish him all the best,very entertainig game,really stands out today with all pure baseline players around.
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nice to hear zagor...yeah, i don't think i joined TT til after, so:).....i actually was thinking more about the announcers calling his matches or the tennis writers covering him, but maybe i missed that too
 
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