Federer v Sampras

[goal sneak]

WTF??? They are playing 3 exhibition matches against each other.

If Federer tries they will be pretty comfortable spankings.

 

[Smell The Glove]

Even if Sampras was at his peak, he would still get beaten. Federer is the most complete player to pick up a racquet. This should be interesting.

 

[wally funk]

depends on what surface maybe. sampras really had a type, didnt he? fed is pretty good on just about anything.

 

[hong_kong_bond]

got tickets to see them in Macau - can't wait, should be an awesome event to watch.

Hopefully they take it quite seriously and it's not just a hit & giggle event - what I've heard is that Sampras has been training quite a bit for it...

 

[johnnyhoward]

You get the feeling that if Sampras manages to win, it'll be because Roger or the organisers 'let' him. Should be interesting though.

 

[hong_kong_bond]

hope that doesn't happen.

Would love to see Sampras really on song with his serve & volley game - and then to see how Federer responds to someone who is genuinely attacking him from the net... no one else is either prepared to give it a go or have the skills to be able to assert themselves

 

[johnnyhoward]

I do hope Sampras has been training hard, which he has from all reports, and makes it at least competitive. At 36, maybe he's not completely out of it. It'd be good to see him win and return to the ATP Tour

 

[Goochety]

Havent seen too many players genuinely attack Federer so it would be interesting to see how Sampras would fare.
Sampras would get smashed at the back of the court and eventually the Fed Express would roll over Sampras' serve.
Has been interesting however to see Federer lose a couple of matches lately, especially vs Nalbandian, lets hope it continues so we can see some decent contests back in the sport

 

[legitimatic]

I'd rather see "contests" in Grand Slams, these lesser tournaments are irrelevant, Federer clearly doesn't put in the effort for them anymore.

Sampras only 36, I was under the impression he was a tad older, if he's been training hard and attacks at all costs it could be quite entertaining.

 

[wally funk]

whats their previous head to head record?

 

[Smell The Glove]

whats their previous head to head record?

1-0 Federer- the now-famous round of 16 match at Wimbledon. Talk about a chagning of the guard moment.

 

[gaelictiogar]

1-0 Federer- the now-famous round of 16 match at Wimbledon. Talk about a chagning of the guard moment.

True. Rarely if ever has the game seen such a once off event signalling a change.

 

[Syd Kennets]

Rog lost to henman in the next round. Then lost 1st round the year after.

Still took him a while to get going.

 

[likka]

Means nothing, just a hit and giggle exhibition game.

 

[Scruff83]

Easy win to Federer in the first match 6-4, 6-3

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iEPED_V-VMavK-kHkSSMpvCc6K2g

Not surprising really

 

[wally funk]

at least it wasn't 6-2 6-1 or something lame.

 

[Hot Spenny]

any footage of the exhibition game at all?

 

[stmookeyj]

2nd match to Roger 7-6 7-6

 

[red+black]

2nd match to Roger 7-6 7-6

more specifically, 7-6 (6) 7-6 (5)

and the 3rd match went to sampras 7-6 (8) 6-4

 

[Smell The Glove]

more specifically, 7-6 (6) 7-6 (5)

and the 3rd match went to sampras 7-6 (8) 6-4

Talk about a half arsed effort from old Roge. He knows which side his bread is buttered. Gave the fans their value for money, but ultimately, he would destroy Apeman if the match was worth a damn.

 

[ashley12]

Talk about a half arsed effort from old Roge. He knows which side his bread is buttered. Gave the fans their value for money, but ultimately, he would destroy Apeman if the match was worth a damn.

He would, because he would tailor his training to the event.

Remember, Roger and the others have had a long season (anyone who watched Djokovic in the Masters Cup would have seen the effects of the season.

Was Roger giving 100%... No, but that dosent mean he wasn't caring, or deliberatly hitting balls out of bounds.

If Sampras trained from here on in to play in Wimbledon for example id have him at 4th in line for the title behind Fed, Nadal and Djokovic, with him training on grass while they played the French Open.

 

[Monkeyboy]

Agree that Fed was not deliberately trying to hit too mnay balls out, but he was going at 40% in these matches.
But he had to. Kept the crowd and sponsers happy and that is exactlyu what Fed and Sampras needed to do.

Put these guys together for a real match and it would be Fed 6-1 6-2

I would have Pete on about the 10th line of betting if he made a comeback

 

[hong_kong_bond]

Sampras' serve was still very good...
He has noticeably slowed down around the courts now, particularly his forward movement to the net, but still showed great touch & power (particularly off the forehand) when able to.

Great day - thoroughly enjoyed seeing the two of them play

 

[Escude]

After watching the match today, i am not so sure if federer would beat Sampras if both were playing their best .Sure, federer was average today, but he is playing a guy who retired from tennis 5 years ago and i saw Pete give him hell with his running forehand and serve and volley tennis.Pete blew it, he was serving for the match double break up

 

[The Architect]

I reckon he'd struggle as well.