Poor Sampras...(Is S&V Dead Or Alive? Part 2)

...has come to Melbourne to present the trophy on Sunday. To the man that will only be one slam away from leveling his record:

"I was fatigued the last couple years. I feel like my last win at the U.S. Open was my last fuel in my tank. That's when I knew I was done.“Why wouldn't I?” Serve and volley on both serves. That's the only way I know how to play. People say it's harder to do it, the technology. But I think technology would have helped me out. If I used these racquets that Rafa is using, it's easier to serve, easier to volley. I could serve harder, longer. It would have been easier. So it all evens out. But I think serve-and-volley tennis, it would have been just fine today. I just think you need to know how to do it."

Asked to comment on Federer:

"Seems like he wants to play for another four or five years. The fact that he's able to keep it so fresh is impressive.
I still get in the gym. I work out a touch, I play a lot of golf.
The Rebound Ace court they had at that time was tough on my body, tough to serve and volley on.
I miss the game, but I don't miss the stress."

I know this was not a "horrific blister" or "icerink fast courts" exciting stuff,  but I find Sampras's reply to my "Is S&V dead or alive?" thread below very interesting.

https://ourtennisforum.forumotion.co.uk/t516-is-sv-dead-or-alive

He says he'd do it both on 1st and 2nd serve.
Is he deluding himself or not?
Would he have won against Nadal today?

he lost 5 times in a row v Chang! I don't think he would have woin 2 points v Nadal....not with his nat gut strings, not SVing, not with his 85inc racquet and not with his then fitness.

Reaching the FO final just one could have maybe entertained the discussion....but he did not even reach the Fo and only reached the Semi once or twice.....

Don't know if you saw this sentence, as I added that paragraph later, but he talks anout him playing with current technology!

"Why wouldn't I?” Serve and volley on both serves. That's the only way I know how to play. People say it's harder to do it, the technology. But I think technology would have helped me out. If I used these racquets that Rafa is using, it's easier to serve, easier to volley. I could serve harder, longer. It would have been easier"

I really can't imagine Sampras doing it. Never on these slow courts.

I don't know why, but I have a feeling, Sampras is extremely vain and cannot recover from Fed smashing all his records.
I think he said all this S&V stuff just to spite Federer.
I even think he'd be happy for Nadal to overtake Fed in the slam count.

The only thing he hasn't said is that Nadal is the best volleyer.....

I think Sampras simply underestimates just how bad things have gotten in tennis.

noleisthebest wrote:Don't know if you saw this sentence, as I added that paragraph later, but he talks anout him playing with current technology!

"Why wouldn't I?” Serve and volley on both serves. That's the only way I know how to play. People say it's harder to do it, the technology. But I think technology would have helped me out. If I used these racquets that Rafa is using, it's easier to serve, easier to volley. I could serve harder, longer. It would have been easier"

I really can't imagine Sampras doing it. Never on these slow courts.

That is what kidding me! Those guys win 14 slams....but have no clue! In fact I think he would get beaten by an in form Llodra. Look who he lost to in his career....just journeymen.....and when they slowed Wimbledon, he lost to Basle!!!! It does not matter how many slams you have won....it does not make you a good analyst of the game! Toni never won anything but he knows how to make a champion! And he did not tell him to go to the net!

Every time I think of Sampras in today's conditions I imagine Berrer!

noleisthebest wrote:Every time I think of Sampras in today's conditions I imagine Berrer!

Pretty accurate description!

http://www.petesampras.com/sampras2.html

Click on Sampras slam and look at who he was losing sets in a superfast surface!! Nowadays on slow?   

Says "site under construction" when I click on it!
Will try on the desktop later.

strange....the link works well for me.