Pete Sampras Proves He’s The Best
November 25th, 2007 by Lucas DwyerMACAU - Pete Sampras still contends that Roger Federer will surpass his all-time record of 14 major championships. In his third exhibition match with Federer, the former top ranked played in the world defeated the younger and widely considered better Swiss star 7-6 (8), 6-4 proving that his assertion is something he’s choosing not to do anything about.
The obviously older Pete Sampras went 1-2 in exhibition matches vs. Roger Federer.
Sampras continued to echo his stance that his time was in the 90s and he will not come out of retirement. Too bad. It’s obvious the seven time Wimbledon winner could compete with today’s players and probably pick up another Wimbledon title to add to his record. Federer did not help quell any wishful thinking from Sampras backers by saying he felt Sampras could beat the top five players in the world on a fast surface.
Simply beating a player as talented as Federer is amazing enough at 36 years old. In their third match, Sampras was able to borrow a page out of the seemingly unbeatable Federer’s tennis play book by not even facing a break point in the straight set win. Or maybe it is Federer who is borrowing a strategy out of Sampras’ arsenal.
It is hard to think that Federer was playing at 100 percent against the man he proclaimed was his idol growing up, especially after winning their first two exhibitions in straight sets. Federer fueled the fire by saying “It’s been tough beating my idol the last two times. I’m happy that he got me at least once.” Not exactly the killer instinct you’d expect from someone trying to win.
