Poll: Who's better? Sampras or Federer?

[Baked]

Federer w/o a doubt. Agassi got mind fvcked in the finals.

 

[Atomicus]

Originally posted by: spacejamz
Am I on the only one that thinks it is a ludicrous exercise to determine who was a better player between two athletes who peaked at different times?

The kobe/MJ, tiger/nickalaus comparisons can be fun to discuss, but to come out and say one player is better than the other is comparing apples to oranges, especially now when kids that are growing now who are focused on sports have better training, technology and environments to practice in...

Also considering the fact that kids now probably grow taller (and are probably more athletic IMO) than when the MJ's and other 'old timers' were growing up...

just my 0.02...

Tennis is different compared to other sports in which players compete in teams and or against lots of other players.

For example: Once Federer reached the round of 16, everyone knew (including the commentators McEnroe, etc) that he would make it to the finals. Hewitt's interviews before the semis, he stated that to get to the finals, it was an inevitability that someone would have to go through Federer. And before the Finals even began, everyone knew Agassi would lose to Federer.

Federer's dominance of the game cannot be compared to Sampras' during his own time. However, whenever I watch Federer's matches, I am filled with a sense of awe and fear.
I remember watching Sampras' matches back in the day and being awe-struck as well, but never fearful of his skill.

Federer is a monster on the court; that is what separates him from Sampras.

 

[psteng19]

Originally posted by: GeneValgene

Originally posted by: jspeicher
Agassi -

Q. Do you think Roger is even better than Sampras at his best, and he could maybe break one day the record of Sampras?

ANDRE AGASSI: Pete was great. I mean, no question. But there was a place to get to with Pete, you knew what you had to do. If you do it, it could be on your terms. There's no such place like that with Roger.

I think he's the best I've played against. But I also think the accomplishment of winning that many Slams requires a number of things, including a little bit of luck to make sure you're healthy, nothing goes wrong.

exactly...straight from agassi's mouth

He only said that because he knows Sampras is not going to come out of retirement and prove his ass wrong

In all seriousness, it's natural to speak more fondly about a current player, especially when put on the spot like that by the interviewer.
Not sure if this took place, before, during or after the finals and where Federer was at the moment.
If this was post-game ceremonies, then it's a no brainer to say that about the guy who just beat you.

 

[GeneValgene]

Originally posted by: psteng19

Originally posted by: GeneValgene

Originally posted by: jspeicher
Agassi -

Q. Do you think Roger is even better than Sampras at his best, and he could maybe break one day the record of Sampras?

ANDRE AGASSI: Pete was great. I mean, no question. But there was a place to get to with Pete, you knew what you had to do. If you do it, it could be on your terms. There's no such place like that with Roger.

I think he's the best I've played against. But I also think the accomplishment of winning that many Slams requires a number of things, including a little bit of luck to make sure you're healthy, nothing goes wrong.

exactly...straight from agassi's mouth

He only said that because he knows Sampras is not going to come out of retirement and prove his ass wrong

In all seriousness, it's natural to speak more fondly about a current player, especially when put on the spot like that by the interviewer.
Not sure if this took place, before, during or after the finals and where Federer was at the moment.
If this was post-game ceremonies, then it's a no brainer to say that about the guy who just beat you.

everyone acknowledges that agassi has played better after 30 than before 30. never in his career did agassi lose to sampras 8 times in a row, as he has to federer

 

[imported_BadKarma]

Speaking of Roddick, who lost in the first round, yet there were 2-3 different commercials of his aired during the tournament. Federer on the other hand, gets no endorsement love.