Pete Sampras has revived the old debate on who is the greatest in men’s tennis. For him, Roger Federer is the simply best we have ever seen in the history of the sport.
For the retired American tennis icon, Federer has all the numbers to be the greatest.
“You look at the numbers of what he’s been able to do, you have to say he’s the greatest we’ve seen. The statistics of doing all-around court play, he can do a lot of different things,” Sampras recently told Vancouver’s CBC Radio.
“He can come in, can stay back, and he can do everything. He would be a tough match-up to beat. He’s a great competitive. He’s been ambassador to the sport. He’s done it the right way.”
Sampras himself had no issue with Federer surpassing his Grand Slam and most weeks at number one records, even hailing the latter’s achievement as a “great effort.”
”The hardest thing to do in sports is the ability to stay on top. Roger has been able to do so by great play and durability,” the 14-time Grand Slam winner had told the Associated Press.
For many fans, it’s easy to declare Federer as the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time). With 17 Grand Slam singles titles under his belt, the Swiss maestro has achieved what Jack Nicklaus has done in professional golf.
But unlike Nicklaus, the long-retired American widely regarded as the greatest in golf, Federer is still on top of his game and has not shown signs of slowing down. Currently, he is number two in the ATP Rankings.
But there are those who say Rafael Nadal is the perfect candidate for GOAT. Even two of the sport’s legends said Nadal, who owns 14 Grand Slam singles titles, should be considered the greatest ever.
Eight-time Grand Slam winner Andre Agassi had told Singapore’s Strait Times that the man from Spain’s Mallorca has more impressive achievements.
“I’d put Nadal No. 1, Federer No. 2” because “it’s just remarkable to me what he has done, and he has done it all during Federer’s prime,” Agassi said.
John McEnroe is also siding with Nadal.
“I have always said Roger Federer to me was the greatest player that ever lived – certainly the most beautiful player. But I’m going to tell you right here and now there’s a definite argument, I’m starting to lean toward Rafa,” said McEnroe, the winner of seven Grand Slam single titles, during an ESPN roundtable discussion.
However, it pays to look into their storied rivalry, considered by many as greatest in the sport’s history, as to who among the two has the upper hand.
Since 2004, the two played 33 times with Nadal leading 23-10. Federer has 25 trips to Grand Slam finals against Nadal’s 20 and has of course more titles.
For some, it’s still too early to pick the greatest between the two because they are still active and, as part of the Big Four, remain dominant forces in the sport.
But one thing is certain, with enough gas still left in their tanks, it seems Nadal and Federer are still bound to face each other on court.
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