Wimbledon Dream Match: Pete Sampras vs Novak Djokovic
- Thread starter lud
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Crazy Finn
Hall of Fame
How can it be a mix of different grasses? Are you trying to construct some crazy court like the clay/grass court that Fed and Rafa played on?
It's either fast and low or it's slow and relatively (for grass) bouncy.
It's either fast and low or it's slow and relatively (for grass) bouncy.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
novak would beat him easy. his returns are too good and sampras is all serve, not much else
alexio
G.O.A.T.
great observation, anyway, i guess it's not so difficult to make this elementary picture, especially for ones who know the basics of graphic design quite wellSomeone has to ask it, so I'll be the one. How did you make that picture
Edit: picture is outdated so probably copied...
Eren
Professional
I don't even know the basics lol. So I wouldn't know where to start. Not a creative type in that regard.
Start da Game
Hall of Fame
it will be a one-man show with the serb applauding his opponent on almost every point.......
MeatTornado
Talk Tennis Guru
The interesting part of the match-up for me is how much Pete remains committed to coming into the net. Is he going to back off when he starts getting passed in a way he's never seen before, or does he double down and go out on his own terms? (the more likely situation I'd guess). Even at the peak of Roger's Fedberg-ness in 2014-15, we saw how gun shy he could be come once faced with a guy who could return & pass like Novak. The early tournament aggression would slowly roll back once ever ball started getting returned with interest. Obviously peak Sampras ain't exactly 33-34 year old, mentally frail Federer, but the concept still applies. Although if the court is sped up a little bit like OP implies, he might be okay.
Because with all due respect to Pete's ground game (which can be underrated by many), I don't think it's unfair to say that it's quite inferior to Novak's and he will lose the match if it turns into a backcourt battle.
Because with all due respect to Pete's ground game (which can be underrated by many), I don't think it's unfair to say that it's quite inferior to Novak's and he will lose the match if it turns into a backcourt battle.
beard
Legend
It's ok, we prefer real matches... Imaginary titles and wins are not our cup of tea...
Third Serve
Talk Tennis Guru
Well Pete has seven real Wimbledon wins compared to Novak's five so this situation should benefit his fans more.It's ok, we prefer real matches... Imaginary titles and wins are not our cup of tea...
alexio
G.O.A.T.
when you will find a real match between them anytime in the history of this beautiful game that took place, call me, pleaseIt's ok, we prefer real matches... Imaginary titles and wins are not our cup of tea...
nuclearmedicineman
Rookie
Sweet graphic!Both players at their peakest peak.
Let's say court is mix between 70s,90s,10s grass.
Who wins this.
Pete's brutal serves and volleys vs Novak's crazy returns and passing shots.
I would say Pete in 4 sets. All things being equal, it seems a good serve/volley player usually beats a good returner/groundstroker. Sampras won 60% of his matches against Agassi.
Unfortunately for me, I'm not much of a S/V player, but hopefully that will change!
King No1e
G.O.A.T.
Djokovic moves much better than Agassi. He has more range on the return so he would get more serves in play than Agassi ever could.
beard
Legend
I know, you are right, but poster I quoted apologized to Novak fans because he gives fantasy win to Sampras... I said I forgive him and said it's ok...
You think I should apologize to Claudia Shiefer? I had a dream involving her, and some nasty stuff happened?
And it's really ok, Novak fans are above imagined rivalries, maybe because Novak is part of two best rivalries ever and he is winning both...
BeatlesFan
Bionic Poster
If you restricted the thread to people who actually saw Pete play, there'd be 3 people chiming in and all would vote for Sampras. The rest will blindly vote for Djokovic because it's what they do.
Anyway, on old grass, Pete in 4.
On the slow grass now, Pete in 4.
There's no comparison between them in grass court prowess despite Djokovic's astounding 5 Wimbledon trophies, considering he's a complete baseliner.
Dominic & Andrey
Legend
Impossible to know
Novichok
Professional
NonP
Legend
(Prime) Pistol beats anyone at SW19 so the answer is obvious.
Also....
I know this may be the fanboy in moi talking but that's really the only tennis image that has filled me with awe. Here Pete seems to be soaring to the heavens... and then BAM!
Also....
but easy to predict.
I know this may be the fanboy in moi talking but that's really the only tennis image that has filled me with awe. Here Pete seems to be soaring to the heavens... and then BAM!
Phoenix1983
G.O.A.T.
PETE with consummate ease.
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PETEhammer
Guest
This isn't fair to Novak, it would be like putting Lendl against Nadal on clay. Sure, Lendl is a great claycourter, but he can't compare to the Clay GOAT. Ditto with Nole.
A fairer matchup, a true dream matchup would be to see these two on a medium hard court. I'd say the Rebound Ace of Australia of the 90s. That would be some great stuff.
A fairer matchup, a true dream matchup would be to see these two on a medium hard court. I'd say the Rebound Ace of Australia of the 90s. That would be some great stuff.
D
Deleted member 744633
Guest
Depends on stage of the tournament.
Semi-finals- Djokovic over Sampras in 5 sets
Finals- Sampras over Djokovic in straight sets. Sampras just does not lose a Wimbledon final. 7-0!
Semi-finals- Djokovic over Sampras in 5 sets
Finals- Sampras over Djokovic in straight sets. Sampras just does not lose a Wimbledon final. 7-0!
P
PETEhammer
Guest
'Greement at last
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PETEhammer
Guest
Light Incarnatebut easy to predict.
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PETEhammer
Guest
Also much less aggressive as a ball striker, and returner of second serves which will give Pete more time to anticipate volleys at net. Overall, the more balanced style of Nole isn't an asset on grass. Hard though, that would be epic
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PETEhammer
Guest
Serve and volley is very, very hard to "become" late in your development as a player, mostly because instincts at net have to be learned at a young age and reinforced by hundreds of hours of practice.
BUT becoming an allcourter who finishes points at net...that's another question entirely!
mike danny
Bionic Poster
It very much depends on the grass. Simple as that. Anything else is pure conjecture.
Gonzo_style
Hall of Fame
Pre-2002 grass Sampras in 4
Post 2002 grass Djokovic in 4 or 5
Post 2002 grass Djokovic in 4 or 5
MeatTornado
Talk Tennis Guru
Novak deserves about as much respect on a medium hard court as Sampras does on fast grass.
You shouldn't argue that one wouldn't even be competitive but the other is an even match-up.
jussumman
Hall of Fame
Talk about finishing a point. Monfils and Sampras with the slam dunks
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PETEhammer
Guest
Novak's slams in Australia/New York came on slow to medium-slow hard, whereas Pete won 2 slams on actual medium hards, so I think I'm being more than fair suggesting it would be a tight matchup.
Dropshot777
New User
Sampras had good volleys, and an extremely underrated baseline game that could rival many of today's players. He also took prime Fed to five sets at wimbledon in a very close match right before retirement. I originally voted for djokovic in four, but after looking at the stats and researching more, I think Sampras would actually win. I don't think anyone could beat prime sampras at wimbledon. Another interesting matchup would be prime borg vs prime nadal at roland garros.
Were the gods of tennis crying when Djokovic took 3 WB titles from Federer? I remember distinctly those were 3 sunshiny days.
bnjkn
Professional
They should have.
But OP's imaginary match would be even more serious. If the grass tennis gods wouldn't cry over that, they simply don't exist.
Weekendhacker
Rookie
But that wasn’t a prime Fed.
