January-February, 2008
Roger Federer
By Pete Sampras
When I played Roger Federer --- he took me out in a tough five-setter at Wimbledon in 2001 in our only official match --- I was struck by two things: the versatility of his repertoire and the fluidity of his movement. Those are great assets, and while his strokes have won him Grand Slam titles, including the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open in 2007, it's his movement that has enabled him to pile up those titles at and astonishing clip. That, and he's avoided burnout, injury, and fatigue.
Some guys --- Pat Rafter comes to mind --- have to work too hard to win. Their games require such focus, dedication, and effort that they wear themselves out. Roger is the opposite. His light step allows him to skate through many matches seemingly unscathed. You never get the sense that, even if he lost, he got beaten up. Ever notice how "easy" he is to watch? That silky-smooth quality is good for more than style points. It allows him to conserve energy.
I first got to know Roger a bit when he came to Los Angeles last spring to practice with me for a few days. I really enjoyed getting a firsthand look at his mature game. Roger's serve is more of a weapon than it may appear, and that forehand is deadly. What most impressed me, though, was the speed at which he can go from defense to offense.
On one occasion, I hit a good serve and followed with a very solid approach shot to his backhand. My ball was so deep and penetrating that I just drifted up toward the net. But it was like Roger found a free step, or an extra burst, and he not only got there, he ripped a shot down the line that forced me to scramble to keep the point alive. Roger didn't just extend the point --- in the blink of an eye, he turned the tables on me, transforming his defensive position into a commanding offensive one. His ability to take command, from any place on the court, at any stage of a point, may be his greatest gift or all.