Pete’s Thoughts On Roger’s Greatness
July 15, 2009 · Print This Article
Pistol Pete, who now holds the second most majors in history, will be playing an exho against Marat Safin on July 27th during the opening night ceremonies of the LA Tennis Open presented by Farmers Insurance. During the press conference, Sampras was naturally asked a few Roger questions.
Q: Fed being the best ever even though he is 7-13 against Nadal?
“Roger’s career isn’t done yet. He’s going to play Nadal a number of times over the next number of years, and he has to beat him. He has to beat him in the finals of majors. But he has to figure this kid out. He has to beat him. He’s lost to him a number of times. You know, you got to be the man of your generation. He certainly is the man of his generation; he just has to figure out Nadal.”
“It would have bothered me if I had a losing record against Andre in majors. It wouldn’t have sat well with me. Did it mean I was the greatest or not the greatest? I don’t know. It’s the debate of greatest of all time. We so badly want to pin it on someone. With the numbers you have to give it to Roger. His record against Nadal, okay, you might not give it to him. ”
“I mean, if I was 7-15 against Andre and I was done, it’s hard to say I was the player of my generation just because he got the best of me. Like I said, the story’s not over yet. We have another probably three, four years of these two guys competing against each other. If anything, I think Nadal is going to be hungrier now seeing Roger getting back to No.?1.”
“It’s hard to give you a definitive answer when it’s not done yet.”
Q: What are your chances of beating Sampras in the upcoming exhibition?
“Not great to actually win the match. He’s playing a lot. He’s playing every day. I’m so sporadic with my tennis, it’s a tough deal. Play every four months, it’s not easy to find your confidence, to find your rhythm. It’s one of those things where I just have to find it as we go, and that’s not always easy, even when I was back in my prime.”
“I want to play well and do some things I used to be able to do, but obviously I’m not quite as sharp as I used to be. ”
Q: What do you think of Andy Roddick’s improved game?
“Watching him play, he’s moving a ton better. I think he’s lost some weight and is moving better. Roger obviously moves a little bit better. When they got into those exchanges, Roger is gonna win ‘em. He’s doing that better. His backhand sort of drive is better up the line. He’s slicing a little better. His transition game has gotten better. As you saw on that set point, 6-5, he’s still a little uncomfortable, but he’s getting better at it.”
“I was sitting up there watching, just serve and volley one time on your second serve because all Roger does is chip it. Put something in his head.”
“He’s improved a great deal, is serving big, moving better. I think he realized he had to start moving better to compete with Nadal and Roger. Those guys move great. So he’s on the right track. I just hope mentally this didn’t take a lot out of him. It might for a little bit. This is a great opportunity to beat Roger on that court in his prime, to get his first Wimbledon, he’s still feeling it. All he can take away is that he had it, he’s improving, and hopefully one day he’ll get his name on that trophy.”
Sampras feels that Roddick may have a slow start at his first summer event, but feels he’ll be ready by the US Open. “If anything, he gained a lot more support from the people. He’s going to feel that there, feel the energy, feel like he can compete with anybody.”
“At the same time, I think it’s going to take a few weeks of tennis to get it out of his system. He’ll just move ahead and hopefully not look back too much. I’m sure he’s replaying some of those points in his head. Sports is a cruel game. Unfortunately, he’s feeling it now. But by the Open he should be fine.”
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