November 19, 2007
Federer ready to take on Sampras
World number one Roger Federer will play the first of three matches against
seven-time Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras in Seoul on Tuesday.
Federer, who retained his Masters Cup title on Sunday, will also take on Sampras in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday and Macau on Saturday.
Sampras, 36, retired in 2002 but has been training hard for the exhibitions.
"I am up against a very big challenge, I've been stepping up my practice," said Sampras.
"Perhaps I am not quite as sharp as I used to be, but I think I can still be competitive. But I've got my hands full for sure."
Federer said: "It's a great honour, but not easy at the same time. People will be surprised how well he's actually playing today."
"It's going to be difficult because I practised with him in LA this year."
"He seemed to play very, very well. He's still got the lethal forehand, the great slice and the great serve, you know, the fantastic movement and volleys."
Federer, 26, won his 12th Grand Slam title at the US Open in September and is closing in on Sampras's record of 14.
Federer and Sampras met only once in competition, with the Swiss winning a five-set thriller in the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2001.
November 20, 2007
Federer: Sampras will be tough
Pete Sampras is already just about ready to concede defeat against world number one Roger Federer, however the Swiss master appears the less relaxed about this weeks three match exhibition series between the two greatest players of the last two decades.
Sampras may well be a 14 time grand slam champion, but he will go into the Asian exhibition series with little to lose, having been dormant since 2002.
"I'm up against a very big challenge. He's primed," Sampras said at the pre-series conference. The three match exhibition starts with tonight's match in Seoul, followed by Thursday's match in Kuala Lumpur, with the series finale in Macau on Saturday.
Sure, The American looks a little older. His hair is thinner, his face has more character, to say it kindly, but he is still very much in shape. One gets the feeling that despite the odds, Sampras is not here for an honourable defeat and a few pats on the back.
"I've been stepping it up (in) my practises and trying to push it a little bit, but being a little bit older and being retired for five years, I'm maybe not quite as sharp as I used to be, but I feel I will play well, be competitive against him."
It's difficult to decipher what Federer's take on the series will be. Given he is the younger, the stronger, the better, it will be up to him to dictate the tempo. Exhibitions by nature demand a certain Vaudeville. However Federer is a very, very, proud man who has his reputation on the line.
"I'm looking forward to playing a nice match."
Something Federer is also quite proud of is his perfect record against Sampras. One match, for one win. That 2001 Wimbledon quarter final triumph was seen by most as the passing of the torch. Federer didn't win that particular Wimbldeon, but he has won five since, along with seven other majors.
"I'm playing against one of my favourite players of all time, and sort of an idol, too. It's a different situation. In some ways it's a great honour, but it's not easy at the same time," Federer said.
Not easy at the same time. Does that mean it won't easy to beat Sampras, or won't be easy dealing with blowing a legend out of the water?
Only Roger knows.