All starts tomorrow folks, not sure whether there is a thread elsewhere but what are your thoughts on this?

Is it purely just exhibiton tennis or do we think if it got down to the nitty gritty both players will try and play outta their skin to get one over on the other?

If it did become really competitive I would obviously expect Fed to walk away the victor, but that is only to do with age, I'n not saying one is better than the other here..

Federer will win but I expect him to make it 3 sets ;) for the paying public.

Seriously I think Sampras will give it his all though just he is a bit too old now.

Actually I don't know.

This is what I wrote when it came up in another thread today....

I really don't know, I probably fall with Fed Wills view Gav,

I think Sampras is probably really up for this and could put on quite a show. like you say, he has nothing to lose.
Can you imagine the comments if Pete was to push roger if it got quite competitive.

Didn't Sampras beat Roddick last year in an exhibition?

We'ld be really daft to read much into the match, unfortunately some trolls will (happily there are virtually none on this site)
Pete is well past his prime, and you just wouldn't expect anyone of his age to be a real threat to the no1.
As has already been said i think they'll string things out for entertainment purposes.

Yes he did trisco which is worrying.

Seriously a victory for Fed is expected though.

Not to disrespect the legend that is MAC but Mcenroe got quite close to Sampras in the seniors...

I can't wait for the 'era of lions' crew to come out if Fed had to save a MP or something though.

I believe he did....which is quite odd. Don't get me wrong I think it's great they are playing....but I just hope people don't read too much into either of their performances with "This comfirms Federer/Sampras as the GOAT!!!!" statements for the next century because I think I'll go off and cut my head off if that happens..... :rolleyes:

Agree with you both FedW & gav, I think we will see a Fed victory but like you say Gav, imagine the tennis forums across the globe if Pete was to win.. :rolleyes:

...especially when we all know the true GOAT is either Boris or Tim...

Exhibitions are always played to split the first 2 sets and then play a competitive deciding set.

Either way, Sampras going flat out and Federer playing at about 60% should still result in a comfortable win for the Swiss.




Why is Pete doing a gay hand shake?

they're playing 3 match this week aren't they?

tomorrow in Seoul, on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur and in Macau on Saturday

i really don't think anything should be read in to these matches - no matter who wins it's all just a bit of fun rather than competitive matches and i'm sure that's how Federer and Sampras view them

I remember reading Mac's biography last year, and how he, Connors, Borg, Vitas would play these sort of matches, say, best of 3 sets. In the book he mentions how they would conspire to win a set apiece and then make, say the latter part of the 3rd set more competitive or something like that..


Might be the case here. These games have been arranged to promote Tennis in Asia, and both players are acting as ambassadors for the game, taking their wares to 3 different cities..

Bound to feel a bit of an end-of-term outing for the Fedster, and a nice chance for Sampras to enjoy being in the limelight in the ATP world again.

Can't think of reading any more into it than that. Hopefully both players will enjoy showcasing their skills and then their respective groups go out together and socialise in some fancy-pants eaterie afterwards.. once they've finished dealing with the post-match media feeding frenzy, of course.. :whistle:

Yep I read that in MAc's book too. He said that nobody ever wanted to have an exhibition and win it 6-2 6-2.

I think Fed is a bit more "Ooo Hello Duckie" there more than Sampras Yorkshire :P Hand on hip n all

Well, Trisco, he is a euroboy after all... and he's always had a bit of 'ooh, hello duckie!' about him.. adds to his charm, methinks :D

Does in my eyes.. ;) Not the "Hello Duckie" thing but more the "euroboy" thing :D

He is an attractive guy, and dresses well thanks to Mirka :D

Sampras wont be able to rally :P