Sampras: Will Federer overhaul him?
Andy Schooler ranks his best players of Wimbledon's Open era - do you agree? < Back to Story
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Comments (32)
Barry Jones says...
All greats on the list, i would also consider Andre Agassi as he changed the way the sport was seen and also the only player ever to win all 4 grand slams on the different surfaces.
Posted 17:20 17th June 2008
Tennis Masta says...
I agree that Sampras and Becker served their way out of breakpoints better than Federer does today. But Federer breaks his opponents much more often than Sampras and Becker combined. Sampras' strenght is clearly his serve. But if a returner like Agassi or Federer neutralizes it then he cannot dominate. Add to it the grass game that Federer has, you have to logically conclude that Federer would have beaten Sampras much more often than loose to him. Also during Sampras era, the fast grass and balls at Wimbledon kept all the clay courters away - Muster, Guga, Bruguera, etc. Now the ultimate clay court player is a top pick at Wimbledon among many given the grass seems to be playing slower than Clay. That is a complete shame that Wimbledon has changed the only surface suited for serve and volleyers. To me that destroys the integrity of the Wimbledon and what it stands for. They might as well change the surface to clay or slow hard courts.
Posted 16:33 17th June 2008
Ricardo Williams says...
Some people might not like the Williams Sisters but their records speak for themselves and are far more superior to most women player of pass 30yrs that ever played the game of Tennis ,so pls give credit where credit is due DJ.
Posted 15:40 17th June 2008
Brian Richards says...
here we go again about the Williams' sisters...what has happened to the Mens again over the past 15 years..has power not changed the dimensions of the game. players in all sports have tended to have got bigger and stronger of the past 20 years etc..for me anyway it doesnt mean the sport is any less exciting. I remember when Roscoe Tanner was on the scene in the 70s and he had 100mph serve people were amazed that guys could hit winning returns of such a serve....Now guys and also women are hitting servs in the 120s 140s..doesnt it require a certain level of skill to able to hit returns on such serves. Bac to the question at hand..the post is meant to be about Wimbledon Champions. In that case Mr Sampras and Martina simply come out tops... I'd put JPM above Becker simply becuae I thought he could do things that nobody else could do with a racket and he was pure entertainment
Posted 14:21 17th June 2008
Theresa Carragher says...
Federer is the best, Borg second and McEnroe should be in the top 5, as for the women Matina No1 but their are better players than the William sisters with all that grunting really puts you off watching the game
Posted 13:15 17th June 2008
Mehran Chowdery says...
@ Paul Scott : this topic is regarding the greatest WIMBLEDON champion, not the greatest player all round, if we look at stats then bjorn borg's record is phenomenol, 5 straight wimbledons, 4 straight titles at the french aswell....arguably the greatest all round player based on stats.....but i have to say a peak sampras on the grass courts of wimbledon over 5 sets is virtually unbeatable
Posted 11:19 17th June 2008
Paul Scott says...
I don't agree with Sampras as No1 - he never reached a French Final. Federer has got to the last 3. Also Sampras never won 5 straight Wimbledons. Also suprised to see Becker in the top 5. Lendl was better all round than Becker. As for the Women, Navratilova without doubt the No 1 (10 out of 10 experts recently polled her as No 1) and agree Graf at No 2. Agree with DJ about Williams - no way should be in the top 5!
Posted 22:14 16th June 2008
James Ross says...
It's always difficult trying to compare different players from different era's. To my mind the Federer/Sampras debate is a toughie and can't be brought to any conclusion until Federer's career ends. For what it's worth, My opinion is that whilst Federer is much the better player overall, at SW19 Sampras would just about hold sway. Why I write though is regarding McEnroe. The guy was class. He played at a time when wooden rackets made the game that little bit more skillful and in 1983 and 1984, he blew them all away. Just one look at the stats in those 2 finals emphasises that point. Which is why, in my mind, if these players had all come through at similar times, McEnroe would have been right up there with Federer/Sampras and Borg I would add that I'm too young to have seen any of Laver's career.
Posted 16:54 16th June 2008
John Burke says...
Martina Navratilova is without doubt the number one all round tennis player man or woman - to have ever played the game. Success on all surfaces, in singles , doubles and mixed she gained huge success and continued for over 20 years, and even recently adding more Wimbledon Mixed doubles titles to her list aged over 40. An incredible all round top tennis player for nearly 30 years - most talented players ever - McEnroe and Federer.
Posted 16:48 16th June 2008
Steve Turner says...
Pete Sampras is the King !! While Federer may be the more complete player of the two, Sampras at his best was the more overpowering & the better athlete of the two. Also, when Sampras was competing it was in the time of many other Tennis Titans such as - Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Boris Becker, Goran Ivanesevic, Pat Rafter ..... the field was so much stronger then, and this guy won the darn thing an AMAZING 7 times !!!....... need i say more ?
Posted 15:02 16th June 2008
D J says...
Federer no. 1 in the mens, Graf no1 in the womens. Nobody in their right mind would consider either of the williams sisters top tennis players. their attitude was just hit it hard and screech, they were the start of the downfall of womens tennis. Thank god there are now a few women players who can actually play tennis and hopefully the womens game will be worth watching again.
Posted 14:36 16th June 2008
Jen - says...
federer is definately the number one player to have won at wimbledon in the open era without a doubt. pete sampras was an amazing player but federer is definately better, look at his record 59 consecutive wins on grass and 229 consecutive weeks at number one and still running, i think it will be hard for anyone to beat that record and dominate as well as federer has and still does on any surface apart from clay. Roger Federer is not only the best player to play at wimbledon but the best player in the open era bar none
Posted 14:00 16th June 2008