REKX
Rookie
A theoretical matchup between Prime Nadal and Prime Sampras at Roland Garros, but Sampras serves every game.
As a Federer and Nadal fan, I think these two have gone a level beyond the Sampras league, but to be fair we could have seen that years ago when Federer played Sampras at Wimbledon and beat him, Federer was very weak then but still beat Sampras, then, Wimbledon champion.
So we can take most versions of Nadal on clay here, but 2008 was probably the best form because he is the only player in history who beat prime Federer at Wimbledon. Federer didn't lose a set till the final of Wimbledon 2008, and in the run up to the French Open final he only lost I think a couple of sets on the way to the final.
Yet in the final he beat Federer the greatest player of all time, in his prime, 6-1, 6-3 and 6-0.
So Sampras serving every game to Nadal, well considering Sampras never even made it to the final, and the baseline game was a lot weaker compared to now. And Nadal would target the Sampras backhand non stop, and it would be far far more exposed than Federer's so it would constantly land short for Nadal to win the point. Also considering the surface would nullify the Sampras serve.
And considering Nadal dismantled Federer in a love set, I think Nadal wins this 6-2 6-2 6-0.
But that might be generous because it's difficult to see how Sampras could take four games off Prime Nadal even on his serve on all games, Sampras would not win points from the baseline, and would get passed by Nadal at the net (who is probably greatest of all time in the passing shots)
......
To back up what I said this is a video Sport has linked.
Observations are as predicted. Because of the surface, the Sampras serve is nullfied somewhat, Agassi was returning pretty much all of Sampras serves, even hit a return passing shot winner against Sampras first serve. With Nadal and his athleticism and speed, and how far back he stands, giving himself a lot more time, would ferociously attack the Sampras serve.
Once the ball is in play, we can see Sampras is hitting his backhand almost going backwards, there is no penetration so not forcing Nadal back or wide. Nadal attacking the Sampras backhand with high top spin would set up many many points. In longer rallies, Sampras is losing most points against Agassi, and Nadal would punish Sampras on this aspect.
Since the serve is nullified, I don't see where Sampras has the tools to hurt Nadal, and would be second favorite for every single point once the ball is in play.
I would love to hear your opinion if you disagree with this, after all this is a discussion. Considering Sampras never made it to the final of the French, and even lost 6-0 sets himself, and Nadal dominated the 2008 French Open, winning three 6-0 sets and nine 6-1 sets, with an average of about 55% return games won - he would have no problems breaking and beating Sampras especially if other lesser players than Nadal have done it time and time again to Sampras.
I simply don't see any other outcome in this theoretical match other than a Nadal win.
As a Federer and Nadal fan, I think these two have gone a level beyond the Sampras league, but to be fair we could have seen that years ago when Federer played Sampras at Wimbledon and beat him, Federer was very weak then but still beat Sampras, then, Wimbledon champion.
So we can take most versions of Nadal on clay here, but 2008 was probably the best form because he is the only player in history who beat prime Federer at Wimbledon. Federer didn't lose a set till the final of Wimbledon 2008, and in the run up to the French Open final he only lost I think a couple of sets on the way to the final.
Yet in the final he beat Federer the greatest player of all time, in his prime, 6-1, 6-3 and 6-0.
So Sampras serving every game to Nadal, well considering Sampras never even made it to the final, and the baseline game was a lot weaker compared to now. And Nadal would target the Sampras backhand non stop, and it would be far far more exposed than Federer's so it would constantly land short for Nadal to win the point. Also considering the surface would nullify the Sampras serve.
And considering Nadal dismantled Federer in a love set, I think Nadal wins this 6-2 6-2 6-0.
But that might be generous because it's difficult to see how Sampras could take four games off Prime Nadal even on his serve on all games, Sampras would not win points from the baseline, and would get passed by Nadal at the net (who is probably greatest of all time in the passing shots)
......
To back up what I said this is a video Sport has linked.
Observations are as predicted. Because of the surface, the Sampras serve is nullfied somewhat, Agassi was returning pretty much all of Sampras serves, even hit a return passing shot winner against Sampras first serve. With Nadal and his athleticism and speed, and how far back he stands, giving himself a lot more time, would ferociously attack the Sampras serve.
Once the ball is in play, we can see Sampras is hitting his backhand almost going backwards, there is no penetration so not forcing Nadal back or wide. Nadal attacking the Sampras backhand with high top spin would set up many many points. In longer rallies, Sampras is losing most points against Agassi, and Nadal would punish Sampras on this aspect.
Since the serve is nullified, I don't see where Sampras has the tools to hurt Nadal, and would be second favorite for every single point once the ball is in play.
I would love to hear your opinion if you disagree with this, after all this is a discussion. Considering Sampras never made it to the final of the French, and even lost 6-0 sets himself, and Nadal dominated the 2008 French Open, winning three 6-0 sets and nine 6-1 sets, with an average of about 55% return games won - he would have no problems breaking and beating Sampras especially if other lesser players than Nadal have done it time and time again to Sampras.
I simply don't see any other outcome in this theoretical match other than a Nadal win.
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