tennis : sampras or federer...

[tmc]

answer poll. comments are welcome!!!

 

[50cent1228]

federer coz his name is kooler

 

[mooglekit]

Tough to compare, but Sampras played against some of the true tennis greats so I'll give him the edge

 

[Ricemarine]

As commentators have said... Federer is playing in competition not so skilled as the competition where Agassi and Sampras have played in. But, it would be nice seeing Federer play Sampras when they are both in their prime. But more than likely, Federer will beat Sampras's 14 grand slams.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: Ricemarine
Federer is playing in competition not so skilled as the competition where Agassi and Sampras have played in.

That is very subjective. Was the competition perceived to be better with Sampras because Sampras was closer in skill level?

Is Federer that much better than the rest?

 

[tmc]

Originally posted by: Garet Jax

Originally posted by: Ricemarine
Federer is playing in competition not so skilled as the competition where Agassi and Sampras have played in.

That is very subjective. Was the competition perceived to be better with Sampras because Sampras was closer in skill level?

Is Federer that much better than the rest?

the bad competition argument is sort of weak - bad competiion is not federer's problem. he can only defeat whats before him. .

 

[tailes151]

if they both played as best they could I think sampras would come out on top. Both playing average federer will take it. Federer will beat Sampras's record.

 

[JS80]

the kid is 25 and he has 9 already...of course he'll surpass sampras

 

[JS80]

From 2004 through 2006, Federer had the best three-year match and tournament winning percentages since the inception of the ATP rankings in 1973. Federer won 94.3 percent of his singles matches (247-15) and 69.4 percent of the singles tournaments he entered (34 titles in 49 tournaments, including eight of twelve Grand Slam tournaments).

 

[Sugeknight]

Originally posted by: tmc

Originally posted by: Garet Jax

Originally posted by: Ricemarine
Federer is playing in competition not so skilled as the competition where Agassi and Sampras have played in.

That is very subjective. Was the competition perceived to be better with Sampras because Sampras was closer in skill level?

Is Federer that much better than the rest?

the bad competition argument is sort of weak - bad competiion is not federer's problem. he can only defeat whats before him. .

How is it a weak argument? Are you saying the caliber of competition isn't easier now?
The same goes for Tiger Woods...how many that he competes against will have legendary status?
It's easy to set records when you have a bunch of intimidated scrubs as opponents.

 

[tmc]

Originally posted by: Sugeknight

Originally posted by: tmc

Originally posted by: Garet Jax

Originally posted by: Ricemarine
Federer is playing in competition not so skilled as the competition where Agassi and Sampras have played in.

That is very subjective. Was the competition perceived to be better with Sampras because Sampras was closer in skill level?

Is Federer that much better than the rest?

the bad competition argument is sort of weak - bad competiion is not federer's problem. he can only defeat whats before him. .

How is it a weak argument? Are you saying the caliber of competition isn't easier now?
The same goes for Tiger Woods...how many legends is does he compete against?

what i meant was that - the weak competition argument cannot be used either for or against federer. it can only be a speculation as to what would have happened if he had better competition etc.

 

[BigSmooth]

Tough to say as both of them were (are) nearly unbeatable on grass in their prime. Still, Sampras won Wimbledon 7 out of 8 years and had perhaps the best serve-and-volley game of all time, including an amazing second serve, so I still give him a slight edge. His speed and fitness at its peak was ridiculous, and his coverage at the net was so great that I am not sure even Federer would be able to get winners past him.

In a few years I might change my mind. If Federer stays healthy he could definitely break Sampras' record, but health is not guaranteed and even if he does, Sampras might still have an edge in a hypothetical one-on-one matchup on grass.

 

[xtknight]

The Federer Express is simply amazing. Nobody can stop him.

 

[Geocentricity]

Legends of any sport become legends ages AFTER their best played years.
Who the hell can say for certain that Federer is or isn't playing against legends right now? Look at Nadal, Baghdatis, Coria, all awesome players that deserve credit. Same goes for Tiger Woods. What position do you people have in saying that the competition against him is trash? Lets see you play a pro-sport with either of them and then talk smack.

Federer all the way since he's got more than just a serve-volley and a helluva backhand

 

[BrokenVisage]

When all is said and done Federer might just be the greatest Tennis player ever, regardless of competition.

 

[xtknight]

Oh, Baghdatis vs. Federer (I think that was it) was amazing. Baghdatis definitely has lots of potential and he'll come in at a close second.

 

[chrisms]

I dunno... Samprass was pretty hairy

 

[Sugeknight]

Originally posted by: Geocentricity
Legends of any sport become legends ages AFTER their best played years.
Who the hell can say for certain that Federer is or isn't playing against legends right now? Look at Nadal, Baghdatis, Coria, all awesome players that deserve credit. Same goes for Tiger Woods. What position do you people have in saying that the competition against him is trash? Lets see you play a pro-sport with either of them and then talk smack.

Federer all the way since he's got more than just a serve-volley and a helluva backhand

Oh please. Nadal? Baghdatis? Coria? that's a hoot. Not one person outside of an avid tennis fan has any idea who they are.
They get credit as being a professional athlete, not the best the game has ever seen.

Tiger Woods...give me names of competitors in his field that will have the same legendary status as Hogan, Nicklaus, Player, Palmer etc...
It's pretty clear already that most won't achieve that.

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: tmc

Originally posted by: Sugeknight

Originally posted by: tmc

Originally posted by: Garet Jax

Originally posted by: Ricemarine
Federer is playing in competition not so skilled as the competition where Agassi and Sampras have played in.

That is very subjective. Was the competition perceived to be better with Sampras because Sampras was closer in skill level?

Is Federer that much better than the rest?

the bad competition argument is sort of weak - bad competiion is not federer's problem. he can only defeat whats before him. .

How is it a weak argument? Are you saying the caliber of competition isn't easier now?
The same goes for Tiger Woods...how many legends is does he compete against?

what i meant was that - the weak competition argument cannot be used either for or against federer. it can only be a speculation as to what would have happened if he had better competition etc.

I would argue the competition only has the perception of weakness because Federer is so dominant. I don't think the caliber of competition is easier. In fact I would argue it's harder. It's just the fact that Federer is so damn dominant it seems like the competition is wack.

However, I think it's pretty certain that Sampras and Federer are the 2 greatest players ever. It's sort of sad they didn't play in the same era.

 

[secretanchitman]

while it it good for him that he's #1 and can basically win any match he plays, i hate to see him go on after all this time. its time for someone else to take over. all i hear is federer federer federer...

sampras ftw.

 

[Sugeknight]

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: tmc

Originally posted by: Sugeknight

Originally posted by: tmc

Originally posted by: Garet Jax

Originally posted by: Ricemarine
Federer is playing in competition not so skilled as the competition where Agassi and Sampras have played in.

That is very subjective. Was the competition perceived to be better with Sampras because Sampras was closer in skill level?

Is Federer that much better than the rest?

the bad competition argument is sort of weak - bad competiion is not federer's problem. he can only defeat whats before him. .

How is it a weak argument? Are you saying the caliber of competition isn't easier now?
The same goes for Tiger Woods...how many legends is does he compete against?

what i meant was that - the weak competition argument cannot be used either for or against federer. it can only be a speculation as to what would have happened if he had better competition etc.

I would argue the competition only has the perception of weakness because Federer is so dominant. I don't think the caliber of competition is easier. In fact I would argue it's harder. It's just the fact that Federer is so damn dominant it seems like the competition is wack.

However, I think it's pretty certain that Sampras and Federer are the 2 greatest players ever. It's sort of sad they didn't play in the same era.

Every tennis great has had great competition.

King/Court
Nastase/Smith
Ashe/Connors
Borg/Connors
Borg/McEnroe
Evert/Martina
McEnroe/Wilander
Lendl/McEnroe
Graf/Seles
Sampras/Agassi
Seles/Hingis

2006 was cupcake city for Federer...Nadal was the only 'player' that he beat...and he sure isn't gonna qualify for greatest ever.

The guy has already earned his place with the greats. We know this...let's have a little perspective at the same time.

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: secretanchitman
while it it good for him that he's #1 and can basically win any match he plays, i hate to see him go on after all this time. its time for someone else to take over. all i hear is federer federer federer...

sampras ftw.

as was sampras sampras sampras during his prime...and he got an early start

 

[monk3y]

Federer and yes he will beat the record.

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: tmc
answer poll. comments are welcome!!!

shouldnt the real question be Anna Kournikova or Maria Sharapova ?

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: sao123

Originally posted by: tmc
answer poll. comments are welcome!!!

shouldnt the real question be Anna Kournikova or Maria Sharapova ?

skill or hotness? Maria is clear winnar for both.