8 June 2009
Roger Federer is now the best ever, says Pete Sampras
Pete Sampras described Roger Federer as the greatest tennis player in history after the Swiss matched the American's own record of 14 grand slam titles by winning the French Open.
"What he's done over the past five years has never, ever been done --- and probably will never, ever happen again," Sampras said. "Regardless if he won there or not, he goes down as the greatest ever. This just confirms it."
Federer added his first French Open championship to five titles at Wimbledon, five at the US Open and three at the Australian Open. He is the sixth man with a career grand slam; Sampras won three of the majors but never the French Open.
Sampras was home in Los Angeles yesterday and watched on television during part of Federer's 6-1, 7-6, 6-4 victory over Robin Soderling in the final at Roland Garros. Federer lost the previous three French Open finals to Rafael Nadal.
"I'm obviously happy for Roger," Sampras said. "If there's anyone that deserves it, it's Roger. He's come so close."
In what turned out to be Sampras's last match he beat Andre Agassi in the 2002 US Open final at 31 in his 52nd career grand slam tournament. Federer is 27 and has collected his 14 major championships in 40 grand slam tournaments.
"He just is a great, great player that is a credit to the sport and is a positive influence for young kids and just tennis in general," Sampras said. "It looks pretty tough to beat now with 14 majors and I'm sure he's going to go on and win a lot more."
Federer will get his first chance to break Sampras's mark at Wimbledon, which starts on 22 June. Sampras is not sure whether he will go to the All England Club. "We'll sort of see what happens," he said.
Agassi completed his career grand slam at the French Open in 1999 and he was on hand yesterday to present Federer with the champion's trophy.
"How do you sort of argue with his numbers? It's pretty incredible," Agassi said. "A lot of people say it's better to be lucky than good. I'd rather be Roger than lucky."
As for the debate about the greatest player, Sampras has long pointed to Rod Laver as his idol. Laver won a true grand slam --- all four major titles in one season --- in both 1962 and 1969, the last man to do it. Laver finished with 11 grand slam titles, although he was barred from competing in those tournaments from the time he turned professional in 1963 to the start of the open era in 1968.
Now Sampras' choice is Federer. "Now that he's won in Paris, I think it just more solidifies his place in history as the greatest player that played the game, in my opinion," Sampras said. "I'm a huge Laver fan and he had a few years in there where he didn't have an opportunity to win majors. But you can't compare the eras and in this era the competition is much more fierce than Rod's."
June 7, 2009
Sampras: It was Roger's time to win
By Greg Garber
PARIS --- It was an early morning for Pete Sampras in California.
When the French Open final between Roger Federer and Robin Soderling began half a world away, it was about 6 a.m. at Sampras' home in Los Angeles.
Less than two hours later, he was no longer the exclusive holder of the most Grand Slam singles titles by a man. After Federer beat Soderling in straight sets, Federer and Sampras each have 14 major championships.
According to Sampras' agent, Grant Chen, Sampras watched the match at home Sunday.
"I followed [Federer's] results and saw some highlights," Sampras said in quotes provided by the ATP World Tour. "People were saying that he was struggling, but as great players normally do, they find a way to win."
"I believe in destiny, and it was Roger's time to win in Paris."
Sampras is 37 years old now, and it's been nearly seven years since he won his final major at the 2002 U.S. Open. He lives a quiet life now with his wife, actress Bridgette Wilson, and spends a lot of time playing golf and chasing his two sons, Christian, 6, and Ryan, 3.
When he retired, Sampras thought his record was safe for longer than seven years.
"I didn't think it would only take seven years to tie it," Sampras admitted. "It feels like I'm in good company with Roger. If there was someone I would want to be tied with and maybe one day my record to be broken, I hoped it would be someone like Roger."
How many majors will Federer wind up with?
"It's hard to put a number on it," Sampras said. "But now --- I know it's a different sport --- he might have his eyes on [Jack] Nicklaus' 18 Grand Slams record."
Federer has now reached 15 of the last 16 Grand Slam finals; Sampras reached a total of 18 finals. "It's incredible," Sampras said. "I never would have thought that some one would be as consistent as Lendl's eight consecutive U.S. Open finals. But this surpasses it, and to do it on all surfaces, it's a reflection of his game and his career."
Sampras was asked how he would have fared if he had played in Federer's era.
"I think I would have had my fair share of wins, and he would have had his fair share of wins," Sampras said. "We have similar temperaments and contrasting styles of play, which would have made for a great rivalry."
"Our rivalry potentially would have transcended the sport."
Will Sampras come back to Wimbledon --- for the first time since losing there in 2002 --- if Federer reaches the final and is on the cusp of breaking his record?