posted Nov 24, 2007

The Federer - sampras exhibitions are staged, of course sampras cannot beat a competitive Federer. Just read tennis discussion forums for the proof.

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posted Nov 24, 2007

wunder_kind, your Sampras itinerary had my laughing in my seat. Which is rare. I'm something of a grump. Superb stuff.

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posted Nov 24, 2007

I'm a great fan of Federer and he is clearly the finest player of his generation. However, these three results with Sampras are sufficient for me to realise that had they been at their peak together the younger man would not have won the number of Grand Slams that he has in such a short time. Like him or loath him pundits do a disservice when they dismiss the achievements of Sampras. Although not so aesthetically pleasing to watch, Sampras was the supreme match competitor and on grass and hardcourts was almost impossible to beat. I just wish supporters of both players could appreciate the genius of both players and grudgingly admit that they were/are great players. As for these matches being fixed, some people will clutch at anything if the results don't go the way they want them. To suggest such a thing is an insult to the integrity of two of the sport's gentleman. To the person who suggested such a thing crawl back into the hole you just came from.

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posted Nov 24, 2007

Yeah, Sampras was class. I think he's dissed too often on these pages.

I'm not sure how seriously to take these exhibitions with Federer, though.

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posted Nov 26, 2007

to Tim Henman

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posted Nov 26, 2007

Henman was good. He had that great year when he got to FO and UO SF's. But he was always like a 'Sampras-lite'. Had Sampras not been around he would have won Wimbledon a couple of times. And of course that famous rain-break.

Richoho - completely agree, these boards are like an official Federer fan site sometimes. Sampras was quality - as is Federer - but 80s and 90s were much more competitive and had better styles of play. Nadal is good but he's not an all-time great, yet him and Federer are way above eveyone else. They have homogenised all court surfaces now so that a) a baseline game is favoured and b) even clay-courters do well at Wimbledon now.

Henman who have hated that.

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posted Nov 26, 2007

to Tim - much maligned by people who couldn't see past a Slam and enjoy that marvellous volleying ability.

A gentleman of the sport

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posted Nov 26, 2007

comment by tennis_hacker
posted 4 Days Ago

"Biscuits you forgot to mention Henman. Surely everyone likes him. He's a national hero isn't he?"

Need I say more - you finally got round to it!

Good old Timmy. How sad those fans will be when he's not out ther on centre court next year I'm almost welling up just thinking about it (not).

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posted Nov 26, 2007

Ahh good ole tigerprawn Tim GRRRRRR!!

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posted Nov 26, 2007

i agree. henman was a great GRASS player, average on other surfaces. He was also unlucky in that his career intertwined with the two greatest players (not just on grass) of all time, sampras and federer, who were both in their pomp. take them out and that could have been 3/4 wimbledon titles. put that in with meeting world no.1 at the time in hewitt, and a rejuventated Ivanescevic, he was unlucky. He met the wrong player at the wrong time. I think Henman could have beaten anyone in a wimbledon final, he jus never got there.
He should have got FO final 04, set and break up to Coria then he realised wht he was doin and bottled it. Lets hope Murray doesnt do the same. I dont think he will, Murray is made of tougher metal than Henman (who was tough mentally too) and i think Murray will reach semi's this year at UO or Wimbledon. In 5 years, top 4 to me.
This is my slam predictions for this year. Winners and Finalists.
AO- Federer/Djokovic beats the other
FO-Nadal beats Federer
W-Federer beats Djokovic
UO-Djokovic beats Federer/Roddick
At the end of the year rankings will be
1. Federer
2.Djokovic
3.Nadal
4.Davydenko
5.Roddick
6.Murray

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