Sampras - Fed's the greatest

Sampras: Federer praise

Roger is a friend, a great player, he's a good guy. He's got 15 now, he could get 17, 18 majors when it's all done.

Pete Sampras
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Pete Sampras hailed Roger Federer as the greatest player ever after the new world number one clinched a record 15th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon.

Swiss ace Federer surpassed Sampras' haul of 14 Grand Slam titles with an epic five-set victory over Andy Roddick in an enthralling final at SW19.

The victory also sees the 27-year-old reclaim his world number one status from Spain's Rafael Nadal.

"I think you have to give it to him," said Sampras, who had shared the record of titles following Federer's French Open triumph last month.

"The critics say (Rod) Laver, and (Rafael) Nadal's beaten him a few times in majors. But he's won all the majors, he's won 15 now, he's going to win a few more. In my book he is (the greatest)."

Tremendous

Federer saved four set points in the second-set tie-break and eventually beat number six seed Roddick 5-7 7-6 7-6 3-6 16-14 to win a sixth Wimbledon crown on Centre Court.

"It was tremendous," added Sampras, who flew in from California overnight to watch the match from the Royal Box. "Andy played great and had his chance, he was up a set and 6-2 in the breaker and missed a few (shots) but Roger is a great champion.

"He fought hard, the fifth set was great tennis. It was fun to watch, it was an epic."

Sampras insisted he was happy to see Federer claim the record outright, adding: "Roger is a friend, a great player, he's a good guy. He's got 15 now, he could get 17, 18 majors when it's all done.

"He's only 27 and he'll contend here for many years, at the US Open, at all the majors, so if he just keeps it going and stays healthy he could go to 18 or 19.

"He's a great guy, he's humble, which I like. He's sort of effortless. It doesn't seem like he's working that hard out there. He just plays at that level so easily. He serves big, he's got a great forehand, his backhand is solid, he's got everything.

Incredible

"He's got the belief. He's a legend, an icon. He's got 15 majors, that's a lot of work. He's a credit to the game. He's smooth, he's a great athlete.

"I feel bad for Andy, I really do. He was distraught. He's upset, this was his chance, he came up short but Roger, the great ones at the end, he just had a little bit more."

Australian three-time Wimbledon champion Laver was also on Centre Court to watch the match and added: "There was some unbelievable tennis, especially that fifth set, there were more winners than errors and the serving ability of both of them was incredible.

"Roger is one of those people that keeps the ball in play and he comes up with

some miraculous forehands and backhands.

"Andy is always a threat because he has that huge serve but he probably got a

little tired at the very end. A few mis-hits and a couple of bad bounces and

you're in trouble."