Federer will play Sampras in an exhibition (Tennis Forum

Well, finally these guys will play eachother in a match

http://sify.com/sports/tennis/fullstory.php?id=14456417

As usual, the lead up will be taken completely out of context, the result will be taken completely out of context.

In the meantime - it seems clear these two guys really respect eachother.

Let the arguments commence!!!

On what surface?I hope its grass!

Pfeh. This'll only mar the sanctity of the 2001 Wimbledon match, as close to a passing of the torch as you can get in tennis.

I'm glad for the exposure and excitement it will generate, but as far as being a conclusive matching of talents it carries no weight. I don't care if Sampras is currently sweeping the Champions Cup events or whatever it is. B)

How long before "Super Sampras Soils Sorry Swiss" appears on the Beeb forum? :D

I think it's great that they do this, and that it's taking place in Asia is a nice touch; it's an important blooming place for tennis, I think.

Of course the result isn't going to mean very much; it's only an exhibition after all! I do hope that Fed puts enough effort in to win it, though; otherwise we'll never hear the end of it from certain quarters ... :whistle:

This all stinks a bit too much of "give the public what they want" and I doubt either of them will come out of it with much credibility.

Maybe I am being a little too "bah humbug" about it before it's really Xmas....but I don't see how this will work. If Fed doesn't win by a canter it makes the ATP look weak, but if he does, the whole point of the exhibition looks poor?!?!? Or am I being too cynical here?

QUOTE (Dark_Necrofear @ May 23 2007, 12:16 PM)

On what surface?I hope its grass!

No! Clay roflmao

What a high quality match it would be :lol:

QUOTE

No! Clay

It would be just that a real roflmao roflmao roflmao

Im thinking Federer will triple bagel Pete Sampras 6-4 6-4 6-4 or it might be three closely contested tiebreak sets 6-0 6-0 6-0 win for Federer.

roflmao roflmao roflmao

QUOTE (Dark_Necrofear @ May 23 2007, 02:10 PM)

Im thinking Federer will triple bagel Pete Sampras 6-4 6-4 6-4 or it might be three closely contested tiebreak sets 6-0 6-0 6-0 win for Federer.

roflmao roflmao roflmao

roflmao roflmao roflmao roflmao Definitely :D

Fed v Sampras.

What's that word? Ah yes...

meh. :rolleyes:

(why do I feel like i'm posting in the style of dl04 all of a sudden? :lol: )

QUOTE (Gav @ May 23 2007, 02:57 PM)

This all stinks a bit too much of "give the public what they want" and I doubt either of them will come out of it with much credibility.

Maybe I am being a little too "bah humbug" about it before it's really Xmas....but I don't see how this will work. If Fed doesn't win by a canter it makes the ATP look weak, but if he does, the whole point of the exhibition looks poor?!?!? Or am I being too cynical here?

I don't think Fed needs to win so decisively; everyone (at least everyone who is reasonable) knows that it's just an exhibition. And Pete hasn't been retired for *that* long --- it is quite reasonable to expect that he can still come out and give anyone a match for their money over three sets (if not over a whole tournament).

In fact, they will be playing *three* matches, from what I've read. I expect Roger will let Pete have one of them ;)

QUOTE (SerenaW19 @ May 23 2007, 02:59 PM)

QUOTE (Dark_Necrofear @ May 23 2007, 12:16 PM)

On what surface?I hope its grass!

No! Clay roflmao

What a high quality match it would be :lol:

It's actually going to be on indoor carpet.

QUOTE (Gav @ May 23 2007, 07:57 AM)

This all stinks a bit too much of "give the public what they want" and I doubt either of them will come out of it with much credibility.

Maybe I am being a little too "bah humbug" about it before it's really Xmas....but I don't see how this will work. If Fed doesn't win by a canter it makes the ATP look weak, but if he does, the whole point of the exhibition looks poor?!?!? Or am I being too cynical here?

I think Gav is spot on, and it's a no win situation for fed, if he wins comfortably it looks slightly unfair-these things aren't meant to be too competitive, and if it's close we'll start hearing how poor the ATP now is, as Gav says.

QUOTE (BIG-TODGER @ May 23 2007, 06:19 PM)

QUOTE (Gav @ May 23 2007, 07:57 AM)

This all stinks a bit too much of "give the public what they want" and I doubt either of them will come out of it with much credibility.

Maybe I am being a little too "bah humbug" about it before it's really Xmas....but I don't see how this will work. If Fed doesn't win by a canter it makes the ATP look weak, but if he does, the whole point of the exhibition looks poor?!?!? Or am I being too cynical here?

I think Gav is spot on, and it's a no win situation for fed, if he wins comfortably it looks slightly unfair-these things aren't meant to be too competitive, and if it's close we'll start hearing how poor the ATP now is, as Gav says.

You know, it seems like, ooh, minutes since some halfwit last wrote some half-baked junk about weak eras somewhere on a tennis board.. :coffee:

Instead of WUMs it should be WEMs (Weak Era Merchants..). Or pondlife, if you'd rather.. :lol:

QUOTE (BIG-TODGER @ May 23 2007, 07:19 PM)

QUOTE (Gav @ May 23 2007, 07:57 AM)

This all stinks a bit too much of "give the public what they want" and I doubt either of them will come out of it with much credibility.

Maybe I am being a little too "bah humbug" about it before it's really Xmas....but I don't see how this will work. If Fed doesn't win by a canter it makes the ATP look weak, but if he does, the whole point of the exhibition looks poor?!?!? Or am I being too cynical here?

I think Gav is spot on, and it's a no win situation for fed, if he wins comfortably it looks slightly unfair-these things aren't meant to be too competitive, and if it's close we'll start hearing how poor the ATP now is, as Gav says.

But we're hearing about that anyway. :shrug:

That shouldn't be a reason not to have some fun ... :D

QUOTE (mightyjeditribble @ May 23 2007, 08:03 PM)

QUOTE (BIG-TODGER @ May 23 2007, 07:19 PM)

QUOTE (Gav @ May 23 2007, 07:57 AM)

This all stinks a bit too much of "give the public what they want" and I doubt either of them will come out of it with much credibility.

Maybe I am being a little too "bah humbug" about it before it's really Xmas....but I don't see how this will work. If Fed doesn't win by a canter it makes the ATP look weak, but if he does, the whole point of the exhibition looks poor?!?!? Or am I being too cynical here?

I think Gav is spot on, and it's a no win situation for fed, if he wins comfortably it looks slightly unfair-these things aren't meant to be too competitive, and if it's close we'll start hearing how poor the ATP now is, as Gav says.

But we're hearing about that anyway. :shrug:

That shouldn't be a reason not to have some fun ... :D

I'd say that there's a hefty little financial incentive for both players here too ;)

Yes MJT, it might be fun, but you know I just get bored hearing the Fed Sampras stuff, hence the lack of interest.

But maybe by the time it does come along it might be of more interest, to me at least...

QUOTE (petalp @ May 23 2007, 09:29 PM)

QUOTE (mightyjeditribble @ May 23 2007, 08:03 PM)

QUOTE (BIG-TODGER @ May 23 2007, 07:19 PM)

QUOTE (Gav @ May 23 2007, 07:57 AM)

This all stinks a bit too much of "give the public what they want" and I doubt either of them will come out of it with much credibility.

Maybe I am being a little too "bah humbug" about it before it's really Xmas....but I don't see how this will work. If Fed doesn't win by a canter it makes the ATP look weak, but if he does, the whole point of the exhibition looks poor?!?!? Or am I being too cynical here?

I think Gav is spot on, and it's a no win situation for fed, if he wins comfortably it looks slightly unfair-these things aren't meant to be too competitive, and if it's close we'll start hearing how poor the ATP now is, as Gav says.

But we're hearing about that anyway. :shrug:

That shouldn't be a reason not to have some fun ... :D

I'd say that there's a hefty little financial incentive for both players here too ;)

Yes MJT, it might be fun, but you know I just get bored hearing the Fed Sampras stuff, hence the lack of interest.

But maybe by the time it does come along it might be of more interest, to me at least...

Not much interest to me either, but at least the trolls will have a field day ;)

Yes it is difficult to get excited about such encounter when RG (the real thing) is around the corner. I was not particularly enthusiastic about the battles of surfaces Exhib and found the match pretty comical with its 34/36 3rd set tie break! We could have a similar scenario v Sampras so the key to minimise disappointment is to watch them without giving any relevance to the score.

QUOTE (petalp @ May 23 2007, 09:29 PM)

QUOTE (mightyjeditribble @ May 23 2007, 08:03 PM)

QUOTE (BIG-TODGER @ May 23 2007, 07:19 PM)

QUOTE (Gav @ May 23 2007, 07:57 AM)

This all stinks a bit too much of "give the public what they want" and I doubt either of them will come out of it with much credibility.

Maybe I am being a little too "bah humbug" about it before it's really Xmas....but I don't see how this will work. If Fed doesn't win by a canter it makes the ATP look weak, but if he does, the whole point of the exhibition looks poor?!?!? Or am I being too cynical here?

I think Gav is spot on, and it's a no win situation for fed, if he wins comfortably it looks slightly unfair-these things aren't meant to be too competitive, and if it's close we'll start hearing how poor the ATP now is, as Gav says.

But we're hearing about that anyway. :shrug:

That shouldn't be a reason not to have some fun ... :D

I'd say that there's a hefty little financial incentive for both players here too ;)

Yes MJT, it might be fun, but you know I just get bored hearing the Fed Sampras stuff, hence the lack of interest.

But maybe by the time it does come along it might be of more interest, to me at least...

Well, of course it's not of any real interest in tennis terms ... it's an exhibition after all.

Just a bit of good fun ... some extra money for Pete in his retirement ... and some extra diamond earrings for Mirka ... :P

The result won't change my opinion of Roger or of Pete, that's for sure :ok:

QUOTE (Big Al @ May 23 2007, 10:38 PM)

QUOTE (petalp @ May 23 2007, 09:29 PM)

QUOTE (mightyjeditribble @ May 23 2007, 08:03 PM)

QUOTE (BIG-TODGER @ May 23 2007, 07:19 PM)

QUOTE (Gav @ May 23 2007, 07:57 AM)

This all stinks a bit too much of "give the public what they want" and I doubt either of them will come out of it with much credibility.

Maybe I am being a little too "bah humbug" about it before it's really Xmas....but I don't see how this will work. If Fed doesn't win by a canter it makes the ATP look weak, but if he does, the whole point of the exhibition looks poor?!?!? Or am I being too cynical here?

I think Gav is spot on, and it's a no win situation for fed, if he wins comfortably it looks slightly unfair-these things aren't meant to be too competitive, and if it's close we'll start hearing how poor the ATP now is, as Gav says.

But we're hearing about that anyway. :shrug:

That shouldn't be a reason not to have some fun ... :D

I'd say that there's a hefty little financial incentive for both players here too ;)

Yes MJT, it might be fun, but you know I just get bored hearing the Fed Sampras stuff, hence the lack of interest.

But maybe by the time it does come along it might be of more interest, to me at least...

Not much interest to me either, but at least the trolls will have a field day ;)

Same here: I share your view Al...No much interest..But I can already see the trolls having a lot of fun roflmao roflmao

Let's hope that they will organize the event in a hybrid surface: We should ask them to consider the following: 1/4 clay, 1/4 grass, 1/4 US hard, 1/4 slow carpet. By so doing we are sure: These matches will be judged useless roflmao a part for the bank account of both ;)

QUOTE (Tennisveritas @ May 24 2007, 07:24 AM)

QUOTE (Big Al @ May 23 2007, 10:38 PM)

QUOTE (petalp @ May 23 2007, 09:29 PM)

QUOTE (mightyjeditribble @ May 23 2007, 08:03 PM)

QUOTE (BIG-TODGER @ May 23 2007, 07:19 PM)

QUOTE (Gav @ May 23 2007, 07:57 AM)

This all stinks a bit too much of "give the public what they want" and I doubt either of them will come out of it with much credibility.

Maybe I am being a little too "bah humbug" about it before it's really Xmas....but I don't see how this will work. If Fed doesn't win by a canter it makes the ATP look weak, but if he does, the whole point of the exhibition looks poor?!?!? Or am I being too cynical here?

I think Gav is spot on, and it's a no win situation for fed, if he wins comfortably it looks slightly unfair-these things aren't meant to be too competitive, and if it's close we'll start hearing how poor the ATP now is, as Gav says.

But we're hearing about that anyway. :shrug:

That shouldn't be a reason not to have some fun ... :D

I'd say that there's a hefty little financial incentive for both players here too ;)

Yes MJT, it might be fun, but you know I just get bored hearing the Fed Sampras stuff, hence the lack of interest.

But maybe by the time it does come along it might be of more interest, to me at least...

Not much interest to me either, but at least the trolls will have a field day ;)

Same here: I share your view Al...No much interest..But I can already see the trolls having a lot of fun roflmao roflmao

Let's hope that they will organize the event in a hybrid surface: We should ask them to consider the following: 1/4 clay, 1/4 grass, 1/4 US hard, 1/4 slow carpet. By so doing we are sure: These matches will be judged useless roflmao a part for the bank account of both ;)

BTW..Second remark..How they will manage in this case to split the court in 4 different surfaces :yikes: :yikes: ..Any idea?? Possible Picture of the Monster court roflmao

....and if they really want to turn it into a pantomime..... have Agassi and Nadal as umpires alternating between sets..... :P

....and petalp......earlier on I didn't intend to bring up the Weak Era Debate. I just meant if Sampras wins we will end up with no end of posts from the "you-kno-who" folk with factual analysis on rubbish.... The talk of it all just bores me to death and has been overdone a billion times over.

QUOTE (Gav @ May 24 2007, 08:35 AM)

....and if they really want to turn it into a pantomime..... have Agassi and Nadal as umpires alternating between sets..... :P

....and petalp......earlier on I didn't intend to bring up the Weak Era Debate. I just meant if Sampras wins we will end up with no end of posts from the "you-kno-who" folk with factual analysis on rubbish.... The talk of it all just bores me to death and has been overdone a billion times over.

Gav this is a good one indeed roflmao roflmao

And how some guys are desparate to assure that Tennis will become the No#1 sport (i.e. just impossible because Football, for instance, will be always there BTW) they will be able to do that : just :crazy1:

Tenez, since when you were an Ivan lendl fan?

Always been Laurie. Always. I liked the fact that he was not popular but yet remained very gentle all along his career. Hi sgenius was not as obvious as mcEnroe's because it resided in the flick of the ball that allowed him to paint the lines at will. I was looking for a picture of his "desert cap" he was wearing in the AO. I thought it was very class....as opposed to the Gasquet style of wearing the cap backward.

I was a fan of Borg, McEnroe, Lendl but also have hated mcEnroe for dethroning Borg. It was only at the end of his career that I admitted to myself (though I was very well aware of it during the whole of his career) that he was a genius. In that respect I expect Wise, Chet and others to come to admire Federer when he will be on the decline....and defend him like they now defend your man against the next upcoming genius.

Tut tut Laurie....and I remember you shouting at us lot for not keeping on topic the other day!!! :P :P Only joking.... B)

I, like Tenez, got a bit annoyed at McEnroe's dethroning of Borg, but I came back round to him a lot earlier than the end of his career. Lendl was just brilliant. As Tenez said he made little fuss, eh went about his business and he was unlucky not to have more slams..... he was runner up in so many. What a talent he truly was.

Considering the amount of slam finals he reached and slam wins he got in the 80's you be hard pushed to say he wasn't the man of the 80's if you looked at that decade in isolation.

QUOTE (yorkshire @ May 23 2007, 01:45 PM)

How long before "Super Sampras Soils Sorry Swiss" appears on the Beeb forum? :D

More like:

Super Sampras Soils OVER Sorry Swiss

roflmao

QUOTE (Sam @ May 24 2007, 02:54 PM)

QUOTE (yorkshire @ May 23 2007, 01:45 PM)

How long before "Super Sampras Soils Sorry Swiss" appears on the Beeb forum? :D

More like:

Super Sampras Soils OVER Sorry Swiss

roflmao

Yes, but Over doesn't begin with an S. :D

QUOTE (Gav @ May 24 2007, 07:35 AM)

....and if they really want to turn it into a pantomime..... have Agassi and Nadal as umpires alternating between sets..... :P

....and petalp......earlier on I didn't intend to bring up the Weak Era Debate. I just meant if Sampras wins we will end up with no end of posts from the "you-kno-who" folk with factual analysis on rubbish.... The talk of it all just bores me to death and has been overdone a billion times over.

No problem Gav, I wasn't accusing you of that! :) If anyone, I brought it into the thread really, merely as a little observation..

I like TV's suggestion of a multisurace court though :B) :lol:

And good to see some support for Ivan Lendl btw. Good player (of course) but alos a very nice guy, by all acounts.

While Roger has the talent i think Pete has the will to win, and wouldn't be too suprised if Pete won this one, unlike Federer, Pete focused more on his tennis than other distractions as Federer.

Pete definitely will be out to win, by beating Fed, he will show he can still compete at the highest level.

I can't see where you're coming from when you say that Fed hasn't been concentrating on his tennis. Are you referring to gettnig rid of his coach?

Gav and Tenez, I've allways liked Lendl as well. He had a dry sense of humour which a lot of people didn't get. He had a great backhand.

His style of play is responsible for so many greats after him. He actually played in 19 slam finals. I assume that's a record? Pete played in 18 finals.

Sampras got the running forehand down the line and inside out forehand from Lendl. Courier got theinside out forehaand from Lendl. Agassi got the dictating play to your opponent from the backcourt from Lendl. Up to then most basliners were counterpunchers like Wilander. (Jeez, who the hell wants to play like Wilander? Like Gary Linekar said once, it's beeter to watch Teletext!)

Roger Federer today plays a pretty version of the Lendl game.

QUOTE (laurie @ May 25 2007, 06:09 PM)

Gav and Tenez, I've allways liked Lendl as well. He had a dry sense of humour which a lot of people didn't get. He had a great backhand.

His style of play is responsible for so many greats after him. He actually played in 19 slam finals. I assume that's a record? Pete played in 18 finals.

Sampras got the running forehand down the line and inside out forehand from Lendl. Courier got theinside out forehaand from Lendl. Agassi got the dictating play to your opponent from the backcourt from Lendl. Up to then most basliners were counterpunchers like Wilander. (Jeez, who the hell wants to play like Wilander? Like Gary Linekar said once, it's beeter to watch Teletext!)

Roger Federer today plays a pretty version of the Lendl game.

Hi laurie..Let me disagree with you in this one ;) ...FED is (simply) playing a "pretty version of the Lendl game"...Come on!! No, I will not buy this one..

I agree there are similarities between the two: In particular, IMO, their preference for playing an aggressive baseline game using their FH as a deadly weapon...

But, still FED is definitely more in a "Flow" (without worries if you see my point) than Lendl.

Main example Lendl was always struggling with his approach to the net (IMO) and this because he was always "uneasy" with his volley game (even if it was might be something more in his head than a fact - Roche was in part responsible for this "problem", I guess).

FED, IMO, does not have this problem: If the A game, i.e. stay back and play aggressive from there is not working 100% he can moves quite easily and quickly to his B game, i.e. short the point and close near to the net: He is definitely more confident than Lendl and this make a big difference between the two...

So no..In my view: FED has a FED game (like Pete as a Pete game that was his own) and Lendl has his own game (that BTW was very good but it was definitely based on a different approach and variety than the FED one)..

I really find too short saying that FED game is a"pretty version of the Lendl game"...

Anyway opinions.. :rolleyes:

I am not sure there is matter for arguing here. What you call "flowing", Laurie uses "pretty".

I simply would say that Fed is more complete a player but there are some good similarities: Both with excellent serves, FH, moving extremely well.

There is certainly no shame to be compared to Lendl. A player that grabbed 8 GSs despite having to face the best legends of the game at their peak. Borg, McEnroe, Connors, Becker, Edberg, and even Sampras, Agassi and (yes in the same sentence TV ;)) Courier!

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