We're talking about singles players, and players who played pure S/V at any point in their career. These guys don't qualify.
Do they have to be in the top 10 to qualify both these player played singles with top 50 rankings. Both played pure S&V at Wimbledon, both got to 19 ranking. Few players in there careers played pure S&V even Goron stayed back. Does Borg classify as S&V he S&V at Wim and USO but he went up on clay a lot. Laver did not purely S&V he had an all court game and the fastest hands I've seen up net, and Becker definitely did not, only on fast surfaces such as Wim.
The Sampras of 1999-2002 was a very different
I'm downloading the USO 02 QF and have a look, but, I watch a bit of Indian Wells 01 and is not looking good. I have not got too far but he's currently has not had to volley off a first serve, and the only 2nd serve volleys have been above the net, the one low volley went through him, and he started staying back on second serve by the his second service game.
I wonder why the other big servers weren't half as successful as Sampras was, playing S/V.
Name a big server and we'll explain. First of all no-one was as big as Sampras at serving. There where other big 1st servers but no-one had his 2nd serve. Second he was in the top 5 off the ground so he did not have to S&V which he really only did at USO & Wim. So during his era his main competition for big server was,
Becker - He was effective on first serve only his second was a kicker.
Stick - He did well S&V but again his second serve was not as strong, also he'd go through entire sets not getting a return in play. You can't win lots of GS having to win on tie breakers.
Edberg - Better S&V but can't compete at the back of the court with his FH.
Goron - He did do well S&V but erratic on serve and return.
Cash - Can't play behind base line.
Rafter - Can't return or play behind the baseline.
Mac - Could not compete with power of graphite racquet, also different era.
Rosset - Erratic, could not return enough.
Sampras had one of the best all round games ever. Not only was he hitting the best serves in the game but his returns and baseline play was also top 5 for the day. But he was not a great volleyer, he was a very sound volleyer, anything below the net was problematic. Your'e underestimating his second serve and ability off the ground. I'll refresh my memory but other than USO & Wim be did not S&V off second serves against top 10.
Watching years of Sampras he worked on,
60% First serve winning 70% out right. Winning 50% of returns off easy volleys. Getting him 85% win on first serve. On a good serving day when he was 65+% first serve he could win off first serve alone.
His 2nd sever was as good as 50% top 100 1st serve and he could beat all but a few off the ground on faster surfaces. Clay was an issue for him as his ground shots where flat and he played groundies to win in 1-2 shots with lower percentage. Which historically does not work, look at Nadal, Muster, Borg, Bruegera & Kerten.
I think Sampras was one of the all time greats and dominated his era but it was due to his whole game and not his volleys. His main weapon was his 2nd serve and his 2nd weapon his ability at being Top 5 on "every" shot.