August 10, 2013
Pete on Fed's racquet switch: Worth a try, but beware
By Matt Cronin
Pete Sampras, who played with a Wilson Pro Staff racquet with a small head for his entire career, discusses Roger Federer's switch to a Wilson racquet with a 98-square-inch head size. Federer, who also played much of his career with a Wilson Pro Staff (90-square-inch head), has been playing with a blacked-out prototype. He is scheduled to return in Cincinnati next week and is it is unclear whether he will stick with the prototype.
"Roger can play with a broomstick. He's that good," Sampras told reporters at the Rogers Cup in Toronto, where he played an exhibition against James Blake. "I think a bigger racquet can help in certain areas, maybe on the high backhand. That's the shot I feel like it's helped me (Sampras is now playing with a larger head size). Maybe a little bit more pop on the serve. But it's more racquet, it's more power."
"Roger's forehand is such his bread and butter and if he's thinking twice about it, that's not a good thing. I think it's worth trying. He needs to win some tough matches. I don't think he needs to panic and feel like he needs to change everything. He's still a great player and always will be. Just to try something a few weeks here would be fine."
Sampras added that he is curious to see how Federer will perform at the U.S. Open if he plays with the new racquet.
"It's just mental, gets in your head. Look at [golfer Rory] McIlroy and his clubs. It takes one slight little thing to get you off kilter, and I just hope Roger just, if he sticks with this racquet, can win some tough matches. Once he does that, he will be fine."
August 10, 2013
Pete Sampras Says Roger Federer's New Racket Experiment Will Take Time
By Merlisa Lawrence Corbett
Pete Sampras says it will take time for Roger Federer to adjust to a new racket.
But Sampras believes Federer's struggles have more to do with confidence, not equipment.
Sampras spoke about Federer during a press conference at the Roger's Cup in Toronto. Sampras was at the site of the WTA tournament to play an exhibition match against James Blake Friday night.
Per Dhiren Mahiban of the New York Times:
"It just comes down to confidence. When Roger's playing well, he can play with a broomstick. He's that good."
Sampras once said he wished he switched to a larger racket head later in his career, and he believes it could help Federer.
"I think a bigger racket can help in certain areas, maybe on the high backhand. That's the shot I feel like it's helped me. Maybe a little bit more pop on the serve. But, you know, it's more racket, it's more power. Roger's forehand is such his bread and butter and if he's thinking twice about it, that's not a good thing."
Federer began experimenting with a new racket after his loss at the French Open. He is reportedly playing with a Wilson prototype with a 98-square-inch head. He usually plays with a 90-square-inch racket head.
Regardless of the racket, Sampras said winning matches is what will help Federer.
"So it's going to take some time. I mean, he needs to win some tough matches and just feel like ... you know, if people are asking him, he's think he needs to panic and feel like he needs to cahnge everything. He's still a great player and always will be. Just to try something a few weeks here would be fine. I will be curious to see if he plays with it at the Open."
Federer is also suffering from a bad back. He withdrew from the Rogers Cup without explanation. He is expected to play in Cincinnati this week.
Sampras cautioned that any equipment change could set a player's game back.
"You know, it's just mental, you know, gets in your head. Look at (Rory) McIlroy and his clubs. I mean, it takes one slight little thing to get you off kilter, and I just hope Roger just, if he sticks with this racket, can win some tough matches. Once he does that, he will be fine."