a lot of people talk about Sampras 14 GS or Federer's 17, but one thing is a fact: that '95 weekend Davis Cup Final performance by Pete, that's why he's the greatest of all time.
I coached and was a hitter at Hopman Academy down in Florida for a number of years and Sampras used to do some training there. The reason he hit such a heavy ball was because he put lead tape all over that racquet. It was insanely heavy. So much so that he built his strokes around the weight. He was not whippy with his strokes due to the weight of the racquet and strain it would have put on his arm. His scientific approach towards such things on top of his skills really took him next level.
This Davis Cup match is what separates Pete Sampras from the rest...he never gave up - played through the pain barrier a lot of the time - cannot see many of todays players pushing themselves this much for a victory!
I remember watching Pete Sampras. I thought, wow he is the only guy on the tour who hits second serve aces often. Other players seemed to do it once a year. The other thing was his running forehand. He turned balls that seemed unreachable to winners. After being amazed a dozen times, I got accustomed. Whenever I saw the ball coming really wide, and he stretched the racket, I said, here it comes. Thy only other running forehand that comes even close is Nadal's
your comment is 9 years old now...... but still 100% true... His on the run forehand was turning Defense into overwhelming offense... things like that happen and you are on the receiving end of it is like a punch in the gut midmatch. Plus his 2nd serve was better than most people's first serves.
Hmm heres why I dont get andre, he talks about pete was able to hit out wide to those to spots north of 135 MPH and then into the body at possibly 142 MPH whereas his fastest serve was down the t at 137 MPH (well hes missed one at 138) so far as I know. Just gotta wonder if its just agassi overstating for effect or if he is translating because he would get about 10 MPH more with the new strings (and a larger sweet spot on his racquet). I credit the new tech as the reason pete still serves 130s
Quite literally. Though I think Agassi was looking at it from a figurative standpoint. From a literal standpoint (for all my engineers out there, whoop whoop), I think he meant he pushed his heart and mind to the limit. As in… take it to the limit. Yeah, take it to the limit. Take it to the limit. Take, take it to the limit. Right now!
@REBS76 Actuaslly he served 130 with andres racquet at an exhibition not so long ago, maybe 08, it was their first series of exhibitions and is on youtube
He was the best player of his era. Federer is the best of his era. A prime Sampras would be very venly matched IMO with a 2006ish Federer on grass, or fast hardcourt. Now a days Sampras wouldn't win many majors because everything is slowed down.
Quiet, I think Andre re-calibrated the speed for modern speed gun accuracy. You pretty much have to add 10 MPH to 90s players serve to make fair comparison. Pete's typical first serve was 125 MPH range with old speed gun, so with modern speed gun, it would have been more like 135 MPH. Make sense. Even guys like Nadal hits near 120 MPH serve these days, but if you look at the play, it is obviously slower than Todd Martin's.
"How do you beat a guy that's holding serve at 92%" a few years ago I heard John Isner was winning 98% of his service games on hard court and was still going into a match with Federer as an underdog......what the Ffffffffffffff? Explain that one to me.
I have a question. Pete had a great DH backhand as a junior, so why didn't he just keep that for the baseline rallies and use a single handed slice & volley for the net & approach shots? I can know see his single handed topspin does a look a bit forced.
@J C single handed backhands are also better for chip shots(chip and charge) which if you thrive at the net is something you also want... if they can know exactly what shot you are using totally based on whether you take it back 1 handed or 2 handed you lose a major advantage
no because pete only uses pro staff n pro staff are meant for small head but all power in the frame n he was all power i doubt he'll serve as good if he had a bigger head on his racquet n if you used any pro staff there heads are always small
