Sampras' comment on 2001 Wimbledon

[martini1]

Just watched the Sampras Wimbledon legend DVD last night. Sampras mentioned up until the match in 2001 he knew almost nothing about Federer. I know a lot of people says that is the most fair match up because they both use the same racket and all. But I think Federer may have an edge on having a lot of study material on Sampras' game, while Pete got nothing on Fed.

Federer, also being young, but yet a very calm player, was able to focus on the game and ignore the fact that he is playing the most famous tennis figure on court. He also got nothing to lose.

It is always so much fun to compare to this match against the 08 Nadal match. Two classics, so very different!

 

[bolo]

interesting. I thought I read somewhere they practiced once before that match.

 

[martini1]

Not questioning you but it seems unlikely the no.1 player would just go out and practice with a foreign teenager who is also playing in the same tournament. Don't you think?

 

[bolo]

I didn't mean to imply that practice happened at Wimbledon 2001.

Federer had been on tour for a couple of years at that point. I wouldn't put it past sampras to forget about a single practice session; really a single practice session might not be inconsistent with "knew almost nothing".

 

[lendledbergfan]

Not questioning you but it seems unlikely the no.1 player would just go out and practice with a foreign teenager who is also playing in the same tournament. Don't you think?

Its about identifying stars. Ivan Lendl practiced with Sampras in 1987.

 

[gocard]

I just watched that 2001 match. Federer looked so composed, as if he grew up on that court. Fantastic match!

 

[baseline08thrasher]

GIve me a break they had how many sets to figure it out????


Also, they aren't way too different in game styles ON GRASS.

 

[djokster]

Just watched the Sampras Wimbledon legend DVD last night. Sampras mentioned up until the match in 2001 he knew almost nothing about Federer. I know a lot of people says that is the most fair match up because they both use the same racket and all. But I think Federer may have an edge on having a lot of study material on Sampras' game, while Pete got nothing on Fed.

Federer, also being young, but yet a very calm player, was able to focus on the game and ignore the fact that he is playing the most famous tennis figure on court. He also got nothing to lose.

It is always so much fun to compare to this match against the 08 Nadal match. Two classics, so very different!

I'm going to be annoying and nit-pick...

Sampras used a St. Vincent PS 85 and Federer used a China PS85...

 

[Lendl and Federer Fan]

Its about identifying stars. Ivan Lendl practiced with Sampras in 1987.

I thought it was prior to the 1990 USO. And yeah, Lendl lost to Sampras that year in the quarterfinal.

 

[lendledbergfan]

I thought it was prior to the 1990 USO. And yeah, Lendl lost to Sampras that year in the quarterfinal.

I don't remember the year, but I think it was 87 or 88. Sampras said that Lendl was pretty "lenient" with him during practice, and then later demolished him in one ATP tour match (can't remember which one). A year or two later, Sampras gave it back to Ivan

 

[joshburger]

in hindsight it was a slow changing of the guard

 

[lambielspins]

The most overrated match of all time. Why:

1. Federer was nowhere near his prime


2. Sampras was nowhere near his prime

3. While the quality was good it was far from great, not surprising given the 2 above points

4. It was not a changing of the gaurd. The Sampras era had ended 2 or 3 years earlier. The Federer era would not begin for another 2 or 3 years later. Even if you are just talking Wimbledon the Sampras era was likely to be ended that year by someone else in present form, while the Federer era would still not begin for another 2 years.

5. It was a 4th round match and the winner would be eliminated next round anyway.

 

[Leelord337]

i like the backhand overhead sampras hit off of feds bh overhead, showedemup