Sampras to face Safin in exhibition in San Jose

[NamRanger]

Wow, I didn't realize that Federer dropped out of the Top 100 then! See what one little stomach virus will do to you?

More like it was the other way around. Federer was toying with Sampras. Put Sampras against Nadal and Nadal will make him pay for coming to the net so much.

 

[BreakPoint]

More like it was the other way around. Federer was toying with Sampras. Put Sampras against Nadal and Nadal will make him pay for coming to the net so much.

You mean like the way Nadal made Tsonga pay for coming to the net? :lol: LOL

If you think Tsonga hits good volleys, you haven't seen anything as Sampras blows Tsonga away at the net.

 

[Chopin]

The universe in which Sampras has won 14 Grand Slams and is considered the GOAT and Safin is not.

Yeah but that's the same universe where Sampras won 3 tournaments out of 42 entered in his last 3 years.

He lost in 30 straight tournaments before winning the US Open and retiring.

Sampras is one of the greatest players ever and still has an amazing serve, but he isn't capable of "toying" with a player as good as Safin (who has a winning record against Sampras). Of course he can play a competitive match here and there but I think Sampras knows he's the underdog playing current pros.

I always find silly when people suggest Sampras could make a real day and day out comeback when he won only 1 tournament his last two years...and that was 6-7 years ago...

 

[BreakPoint]

Yeah but that's the same universe where Sampras won 3 tournaments out of 42 entered in his last 3 years.

He lost in 30 straight tournaments before winning the US Open and retiring.

But did Sampras drop to #141 in the world like Agassi did in 1997? Nope. He stayed in the Top 20. And look at what Agassi did between 1999 - 2006.

BTW, Sampras serves even bigger now than he did when he was on tour.

 

[BreakPoint]

More like it was the other way around. Federer was toying with Sampras. Put Sampras against Nadal and Nadal will make him pay for coming to the net so much.

I guess you didn't see this then. Sure looks to me like Sampras was the one toying with Federer.

http://www.stage6.com/Tennis-Channe...Lumpur_ClashOfTheTitans_Federer_Sampras1stset

http://www.stage6.com/Tennis-Channe...Lumpur_ClashOfTheTitans_Federer_Sampras2ndset

 

[JackSkellington]

hilarious, you are completely oblivious about the world of professional tennis. (breakpoint) Keep living in your fantasy world where pros never age. Safin is well past the ability to beat anyone in the top 100 in a serious match.

 

[laurie]

hilarious, you are completely oblivious about the world of professional tennis. (breakpoint) Keep living in your fantasy world where pros never age. Safin is well past the ability to beat anyone in the top 100 in a serious match.

Did you really mean Safin?

 

[Duzza]

Did you really mean Safin?

He meant Sampras. I thought it was pretty obvious from the context of his post.

 

[Chopin]

But did Sampras drop to #141 in the world like Agassi did in 1997? Nope. He stayed in the Top 20. And look at what Agassi did between 1999 - 2006.

BTW, Sampras serves even bigger now than he did when he was on tour.

Agassi was 26 years old when he dropped in the rankings and made a comeback!

 

[laurie]

He meant Sampras. I thought it was pretty obvious from the context of his post.

I know, I was just messing.

 

[ksbh]

ROFL X 10! Great response dude!

What he may heave meant is that in Sampras' current state, Nadal may get the better of him. I think Sampras is 36 or something. I doubt he moves the way he did in his prime.

You mean like the way Nadal made Tsonga pay for coming to the net? :lol: LOL

If you think Tsonga hits good volleys, you haven't seen anything as Sampras blows Tsonga away at the net.

 

[BreakPoint]

hilarious, you are completely oblivious about the world of professional tennis. (breakpoint) Keep living in your fantasy world where pros never age. Safin is well past the ability to beat anyone in the top 100 in a serious match.

McEnroe won an ATP doubles tournament at the age of 47. What does that say about all the doubles players on the ATP Tour that are 20-25 years younger than McEnroe?

I don't think you were even around during Sampras' prime. He's not much worse now and he serves even bigger. Federer said Sampras could still be in the Top 5 in the world. Who's opinion is more credible, Federer's or yours?

 

[psamp14]

Yup, I wouldn't miss it for the world.

I'm a little concerned about Haas, though. He's just coming back from an injury and hasn't played in like 5 months or so. He even lost to Diego Hartfield this week in Delray Beach. If you don't remember who Hartfield is, he's the guy that Federer destroyed in the 1st round of this year's Aus Open with 2 bagles. Hartfield has been a pro for a long time, is like 27 years old, but has NEVER won a single match on a hardcourt in his entire career UNTIL last week when he beat Haas! So if Haas, one of the best hardcourt players in the world, can lose to Hartfield in his current condition, I'd shutter to think what Sampras would do to him on an indoor hardcourt. :shock:

thats great BP...about haas, i saw the scores and losing to hartfield was a total upset, since the guy never won a single atp match in his life...but i'm super excited about going to watch sampras play...my seats are in lower reserve row 17 or something....are those pretty good seats?

 

[psamp14]

I'm sure you will enjoy the match.

Personally I would have liked to see Sampras play someone new. After all, he played Haas about 9 times going back to 1998 on the tour. Ironically Sampras also played Safin ten years ago at the US Open when he won in straight sets and Safin was 18 years old. But I'm sure it will still be a fun match as both players respect eachother.

who would you have liked to see sampras play? after hearing about safin withdrawing, i had a dream match up between sampras and agassi, that would so exciting...then breakpoint put out the remote possibility that federer might play, and even though that sounded totally crazy to me, i would have loved to see it...

 

[Duzza]

I know, I was just messing.

I figured, but you know these forums and the seriousness people can project! lol.

 

[BreakPoint]

thats great BP...about haas, i saw the scores and losing to hartfield was a total upset, since the guy never won a single atp match in his life...but i'm super excited about going to watch sampras play...my seats are in lower reserve row 17 or something....are those pretty good seats?

psamp14,
I think you mean he's never won a hardcourt match in his life.

Anything in the lower section should be a good seat so you should have a great view.

 

[BreakPoint]

who would you have liked to see sampras play? after hearing about safin withdrawing, i had a dream match up between sampras and agassi, that would so exciting...then breakpoint put out the remote possibility that federer might play, and even though that sounded totally crazy to me, i would have loved to see it...

I only threw out the possibility of either Federer or Agassi because AFAIK, neither of them are playing anywhere else next week, and maybe they're not really doing anything at all. So as far as availability, I presume both are available. But, of course, the question always comes down to if they are willing to do it and how much money they want. Can you imagine, though? Sampras versus either Federer or Agassi? That would have been incredible!!!

 

[laurie]

who would you have liked to see sampras play? after hearing about safin withdrawing, i had a dream match up between sampras and agassi, that would so exciting...then breakpoint put out the remote possibility that federer might play, and even though that sounded totally crazy to me, i would have loved to see it...

Well I would like to see Sampras play someone like Blake. Pete mentioned in an interview recently he would like to play Blake. Or even someone like Andy Murray. Andy Murray plays a very cagey game and that would fit nicely with Pete who is a very decisive player on the court, a decision maker, that could help Murray too. I also think a young player would see it as an honour to play Sampras in an exhibition. What does Nicholas Mahut call Pete? Oh yes - "Master Sampras"

Also playing on a hardcourt is good because Pete likes to stay back on occassions, the courts in Asia were probably too quick.

Just to imagine - a young Sampras against a young Tsonga would have been fun.

 

[psamp14]

psamp14,
I think you mean he's never won a hardcourt match in his life.

Anything in the lower section should be a good seat so you should have a great view.

thats good to know, i'm so excited at just the thought of going to see sampras play...

I only threw out the possibility of either Federer or Agassi because AFAIK, neither of them are playing anywhere else next week, and maybe they're not really doing anything at all. So as far as availability, I presume both are available. But, of course, the question always comes down to if they are willing to do it and how much money they want. Can you imagine, though? Sampras versus either Federer or Agassi? That would have been incredible!!!

i wish your dream matchups would come true! how unbelievable would that be, to see sampras play either federer or agassi, right here close to home, which i would never miss!!!!!!!!

 

[psamp14]

Well I would like to see Sampras play someone like Blake. Pete mentioned in an interview recently he would like to play Blake. Or even someone like Andy Murray. Andy Murray plays a very cagey game and that would fit nicely with Pete who is a very decisive player on the court, a decision maker, that could help Murray too. I also think a young player would see it as an honour to play Sampras in an exhibition. What does Nicholas Mahut call Pete? Oh yes - "Master Sampras"

Also playing on a hardcourt is good because Pete likes to stay back on occassions, the courts in Asia were probably too quick.

Just to imagine - a young Sampras against a young Tsonga would have been fun.

i just want to see sampras put on a show monday night!!!!!!!!!!

 

[gocard]

Agree, I would have loved to see Sampras play Federer or Agassi, but I have no complaints with the Sampras vs Haas match! I hope it is a good match

 

[Tempest344]

You mean like the way Nadal made Tsonga pay for coming to the net? :lol: LOL

If you think Tsonga hits good volleys, you haven't seen anything as Sampras blows Tsonga away at the net.

I think Sampras has even said he'd love to play Nadal
and would be "licking his chops" about coming in to the net or something to that effect

 

[Fee]

I'm beginning to wonder about the quality of this match because of what happened to Haas in Delray. He said he had no strength and his arm just kind of left him by the end of the match. Pete might just blow him off the court, which is rumored to be 'medium fast' this year.

 

[Deleted member 25923]

did they get to play or did Safin pull out? I searched on the tourny website and all it talks about is teh Sampras v.s. Haas where Haas got annihilated

 

[BreakPoint]

did they get to play or did Safin pull out? I searched on the tourny website and all it talks about is teh Sampras v.s. Haas where Haas got annihilated

Safin pulled out so Haas took his place and played Sampras instead.