Sampras vs. Djokovic
How would a match between a 25 year-old Pete Sampras and current Novak Djokovic play out? I think Djokovic takes it but I'm not quite sure.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Chuck Tomlin on
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Why does it always have to come down to demeaning comments with guys like you? Is it because you can't make a case otherwise?
I will not reply in a similar manner although it is clear that I see quite a few who would and "have had" winning careers against Pete. DJ is just one of several players I find superior to Pete head to head. Pete's career and body of work are another question that was not answered. Clearly I'm not the one with a man crush.
No one mentioned Rafa and S&V game, but only his outstanding technical volleys. Is that too hard to keep straight?
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I just have to ask, do you guys think there are virtually no S&V players in the game now because they don't have the skills?
Or because top coaches and touring pro have decided that would be quiet ineffective vs today's talented game?
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Permalink Reply by Tim Prapong on
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I would love to see someone like Pete in the game right now, making the Top 4 more interesting for a change. I personally am tired of the Nadal/Fed rivalry. And watching Nadal and Djoko play super long matches is a little boring. A S&V player would be great right about now. :)
I never liked Pete that much when he was playing, because he was steamrolling everyone with the serve. I felt like he was practically dunking in aces, him and Goran. But now, I appreciate Pete for his attitude and his risk taking. But no, I was rooting for Kuerten, Korda, Krajicek and Safin to beat him. Even Ferreira, that boy could wallop Sampras!
I personally believe it is the fault of coaching that there are few S&V. I don't see many academies emphasizing volleys and the midcourt game in the U.S.. What I've seen is big groundstrokes and poor volleys in juniors. I wouldn't be surprised if that were the case worldwide.
We still have Lopez, Llodra and Raonic.Too bad we can't even watch all court play like Becker, a guy who could play front and back. I would've loved to see Mac, Edberg or Rafter against Djoko for that matter. Djoko is real awkward at the overhead and his volleys are bleh!
No one can expect someone as naturally conservative and calculating as Federer to come to the net, because he is not a risk taker. Poor Annacone. He had Fed doing it with success at the Masters two years ago, then Fed goes back to his old ways.
Would you agree, Chuck, that the volley must be taught to the same degree as a groundstroke? If it is not taught, it is not used with confidence.
By the way, yeah, Pete would clunk alot of droppers. But he didn't have what Mac had, hands of gold. :)
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While I agree that the volleys are not taught so much or well to Jrs, I think there are many tour players like Nadal, who have fantastic volley technique, but they don't see it as a great option in today's game. I think the slice and volley are very connected form wise, & are quite simple really with good instruction; so no, I don't think it takes as much time to develop good slices and volleys as it does to develop the power strokes. What does take the most time of all is the transition aspects of the game. This is where the game is severely lacking right now and it does take excellent coaching as you mention.
I do agree with you that it is unfortunate players don't like the risk associated with coming to net, as it makes the game much more interesting & exciting when styles clash. Take heart though, because that is the way to get to DJ. To mix it up like Fed and Nadal are capable of doing. Now they may be forced to work this aspect into their game plan more, as each have slightly more firepower than DJ in that respect. Fed and Nadal need to look for more quality first strike opportunities, then move in like the all court players they can be.
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Well, it does come down to Fed and Nadal to come in. Murray to come in? No, he likes to trade with Djoko to the last drop.
Nadal needs more variety on his serve to come in. He needs disguise and changes in depth. Then he can come in. He has an excellent slice serve to pull Djoko with. Then he needs to stop playing so far back, use the slice backhand and charge in once in awhile, just like Pete would. Lord knows he has the footspeed to get up to the net. Gee whiz! lol
Fed needs a little more heat on that serve or more aces. He's not really going up to the line with the attitude of Sampras, Becker, Krajicek, Phillipoussis, etc.. and saying to Djoko, "You better look out for my bullet, it will ace you over and over." He's going for placement at a decent speed, but not getting it out of Djoko's reach.
Fed just sits back there after serving, looking for an inside out forehand. Djoko does give that IO forehand to him, and gets burned up the line. But then Djoko wises up and does something else. This is where Fed loses, big time, because Djoko has greater topspin advantage. Fed needs to prove he can damage with a midcourt drive volley which pulls Djoko to a side. He hits these goofy droppers which work sometimes, but never strikes fear in someone with Dj's footspeed.
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Mostly agree. It's the transition aspect where the game is suffering right now. They have the stroke skills in place. Just need to improve the transitions.
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Well, it's interesting to see the game has gone full circle again. Big serving 1990s being changed over to great returning 2010. So the question is if both ends of the circle were to meet, would the big serving Sampras deal well with big returning/ groundstroking Djoko?
There could be other interesting questions, such as would Fed beat Laver if both were given wood racquets. I'd think Laver would win personally.
Well, we'll never really know. Just last night, my younger community college partners said they played Wii video game tennis and said Sampras lost to Murray in the game. All I had to say was, "Really?" But I silently thought, "No way on earth." Maybe I'm just sticking up for my generation. lol
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I'm swayed by a couple of factors. Even indoors, Fed handled Pete's serve (which was actually slightly faster than when he played I believe) in their exhibitions pretty well, and Fed does not return as well as DJ. I could never really count out the pair of serves that was Pete Sampras, but I just don't think that bread and butter 121 down the T is enough to keep DJ from getting his breaks here and there. 121mph is just not that big by today's standards. Returners were forced to adjust their return positions due to big servers like Roddick, so it's so much about Pete hitting the spots. My bet is DJ would get it done if they met in the later rounds of a Major.
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Yeah, I did see those exos with definite interest. It took awhile for Pete to get going, but he did manage to win the third one in Macau. I know there are lots of guys who will say exos are not the real thing, that Fed didn't play full out, or Sampras' serve is not what is used to be.
But I know what you're saying, that perhaps the footwork of today's players has advanced and can cover bigger serves better. I would agree with that. The type of pivoting and stances that all of the Top 4 use are far superior to what Sampras and his generation used, minus say Chang or Mecir.
I still think it would be interestingly close between a young Sampras and a young Djoko. Pete would have to serve a little differently than just use that bread and butter T. He'd probably go for the hip jammer or out wide slice.
Did you see Tsonga vs. Edberg exo in Brisbane this year? Edberg did remarkable coming in still, even though he doesn't have the same kicker motion. Tsonga couldn't set up for groundies as well when Edberg was up there dictating. But when Tsonga turned up the heat on the groundies, even Edberg's vaunted backhand didn't look so hot.
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