Top-ranked Federer tries to avoid Sampras' fate ASSOCIATED PRESS
Anastasia Myskina of Russia returns to Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands yesterday during a semifinal match in the WTA Tour Istanbul Cup tournament in Turkey.
PARIS (May 27, 2006)
Roger Federer pays attention to what people think.
He hears what's said about his game, his legacy. He also considers what's said about Pete Sampras, the player to whom his skills, drive and body of work are most often compared.
Here's what sticks with Federer, what motivates him to work harder and -- seems impossible, right? -- improve the tennis game that's made him No. 1 in the rankings for the past 121 weeks and counting:
If he never does manage to win the French Open, the only Grand Slam tournament he's yet to conquer, Federer will leave himself open to the same sort of criticism levelled at Sampras for never mastering the red clay of Roland Garros.
"Many people take away things from Sampras because he never won the French, saying his career was not complete, which I totally don't agree with. I think he had the best career of any player ever, you know? So to say his career is not complete, that is not fair,'' Federer said in a phone interview.
"But it still leaves the door open for attacks on him. Because they say he was maybe the best on grass, hard courts and indoor, but not the best on clay. I really don't think it's fair. That's why I really hope one day I can win the French and be one of the elite group who won all four.''
When play starts at the French Open tomorrow -- it's a 15-day event for the first time -- Federer will be trying to become the sixth man with a career Grand Slam. He'll also be bidding to win his fourth straight major championship, following Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and Australian Open, which would make him the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all of the sport's top titles simultaneously.
SERENA TO SKIP WIMBLEDON
Two-time champion Serena Williams withdrew from Wimbledon yesterday because of a chronic knee injury. She had also withdrawn from the French Open, which starts tomorrow. Wimbledon starts June 26.
Williams won Wimbledon in 2002 and 2003. Once ranked No. 1 and the winner of seven Grand Slam titles, Williams is now 108th in the WTA Tour rankings.
DAVYDENKO, PAVEL IN FINAL
In Poertschach, Austria, Defending champion Nikolay Davydenko of Russia defeated Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-2 yesterday and will play Andrei Pavel of Romania in the final of the Hypo Group International.
Pavel advanced with a walkover when Luis Horna of Peru withdrew because of a back injury.
VAIDISOVA FACES PENG
In Strasbourg, France, Peng Shuai upset defending champion Anabel Medina Garrigues 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 yesterday and will face Nicole Vaidisova in the Strasbourg International final. The second-seeded Vaidisova got past Jelena Jankovic, who retired with dizziness while trailing 6-3, 1-0.
Dave Hazelwood wrote:> Top-ranked Federer tries to avoid Sampras' fate
"Many people take away things from Sampras because he never won the> French, saying his career was not complete, which I totally don't> agree with. I think he had the best career of any player ever, you> know? So to say his career is not complete, that is not fair,''> Federer said in a phone interview.>
"But it still leaves the door open for attacks on him. Because they> say he was maybe the best on grass, hard courts and indoor, but not> the best on clay. I really don't think it's fair. That's why I really> hope one day I can win the French and be one of the elite group who> won all four.''
tremendous quote. fed understands that, "fair" or not, he'll be subject to the same type of naysaying that Sampras suffers from if he doesn't win the FO.
and he understands the huge legacy value of being in the career GS elite.
-- "when i visited Aden before collectivization, all the markets were full of fish product. After collectivization, the fish immediately disappeared."
"Many people take away things from Sampras because he never won the>> French, saying his career was not complete, which I totally don't>> agree with. I think he had the best career of any player ever, you>> know? So to say his career is not complete, that is not fair,''>> Federer said in a phone interview.>>
"But it still leaves the door open for attacks on him. Because they>> say he was maybe the best on grass, hard courts and indoor, but not>> the best on clay. I really don't think it's fair. That's why I really>> hope one day I can win the French and be one of the elite group who>> won all four.''>
tremendous quote. fed understands that, "fair" or not, he'll be subject > to the same type of naysaying that Sampras suffers from if he doesn't > win the FO.>
and he understands the huge legacy value of being in the career GS elite.>
Emerson has double career slam - essentially meaningless.
On Sat, 27 May 2006 23:46:04 +1000, Whisper <beaver999@ozemail.com.au> wrote:
stephenj wrote:>> Dave Hazelwood wrote:>>
Top-ranked Federer tries to avoid Sampras' fate>>
"Many people take away things from Sampras because he never won the>>> French, saying his career was not complete, which I totally don't>>> agree with. I think he had the best career of any player ever, you>>> know? So to say his career is not complete, that is not fair,''>>> Federer said in a phone interview.>>>
"But it still leaves the door open for attacks on him. Because they>>> say he was maybe the best on grass, hard courts and indoor, but not>>> the best on clay. I really don't think it's fair. That's why I really>>> hope one day I can win the French and be one of the elite group who>>> won all four.''>>
tremendous quote. fed understands that, "fair" or not, he'll be subject >> to the same type of naysaying that Sampras suffers from if he doesn't >> win the FO.>>
and he understands the huge legacy value of being in the career GS elite.>>
Emerson has double career slam - essentially meaningless.>
Dave Hazelwood wrote:> On Sat, 27 May 2006 23:46:04 +1000, Whisper <beaver999@ozemail.com.au>> wrote:>
stephenj wrote:>>
Dave Hazelwood wrote:>>>
Top-ranked Federer tries to avoid Sampras' fate>>>
"Many people take away things from Sampras because he never won the>>>>French, saying his career was not complete, which I totally don't>>>>agree with. I think he had the best career of any player ever, you>>>>know? So to say his career is not complete, that is not fair,''>>>>Federer said in a phone interview.>>>>
"But it still leaves the door open for attacks on him. Because they>>>>say he was maybe the best on grass, hard courts and indoor, but not>>>>the best on clay. I really don't think it's fair. That's why I really>>>>hope one day I can win the French and be one of the elite group who>>>>won all four.''>>>
tremendous quote. fed understands that, "fair" or not, he'll be subject >>>to the same type of naysaying that Sampras suffers from if he doesn't >>>win the FO.>>>
and he understands the huge legacy value of being in the career GS elite.>>>
Emerson has double career slam - essentially meaningless.>>
Nadal ... doesn't even have that.>
More than meaningless izzit ?
Just demonstrating a double career slam doesn't necessarily give you great recognition & to keep the ceibs in check to save embarrassment.
Fan wrote:>>"Many people take away things from Sampras because he never won the>>French, saying his career was not complete, which I totally don't>>agree with. I think he had the best career of any player ever, you>>know? So to say his career is not complete, that is not fair,''>>Federer said in a phone interview.>>
Is this how Federer wants to wiggle out of not winning the FO? It will> not work. He better win it or else people will be "saying his career> was not complete" - and people will be right.>
He can still have the greatest career in history without a FO title.
"Many people take away things from Sampras because he never won the>>> French, saying his career was not complete, which I totally don't>>> agree with. I think he had the best career of any player ever, you>>> know? So to say his career is not complete, that is not fair,''>>> Federer said in a phone interview.>>>
Is this how Federer wants to wiggle out of not winning the FO? It will>> not work. He better win it or else people will be "saying his career>> was not complete" - and people will be right.>>
He can still have the greatest career in history without a FO title.
yes, but then he'll leave the legacy door that much wider for the next guy to walk past him.
it's pretty clear. to be "best since laver", you have to combine sampras's key achievement (winning tons of W+USO) and Agassi's (all 4).
if fed wins 12 W+USO and all 4, he'll be clear-cut best since laver.
-- "when i visited Aden before collectivization, all the markets were full of fish product. After collectivization, the fish immediately disappeared."
rofl! if emerson had his record - 12 total slams and 2 career GS's, >>> he'd be ahead of sampras and borg for sure, only laver would >>> challenge him as 'goat'.>>>
No he wouldn't as he'd have only 6 blue-chips, which is same as Lendl.>>
It would simply mean he was versatile, but not in goat conversation.>
rofl! if emerson had his record - 12 total slams and 2 career GS's, >>>> he'd be ahead of sampras and borg for sure, only laver would >>>> challenge him as 'goat'.>>>>
No he wouldn't as he'd have only 6 blue-chips, which is same as Lendl.>>>
It would simply mean he was versatile, but not in goat conversation.>>
you're delusional.>>
6 blue-chips can be goat....?>
..& I'm delusional?
clearly. anyone with 12 pro slams including 2 career GS would be in *every* goat conversation.
-- "when i visited Aden before collectivization, all the markets were full of fish product. After collectivization, the fish immediately disappeared."
rofl! if emerson had his record - 12 total slams and 2 career GS's, >>>>> he'd be ahead of sampras and borg for sure, only laver would >>>>> challenge him as 'goat'.>>>>>
No he wouldn't as he'd have only 6 blue-chips, which is same as Lendl.>>>>
It would simply mean he was versatile, but not in goat conversation.>>>
you're delusional.>>>
6 blue-chips can be goat....?>>
..& I'm delusional?>
clearly. anyone with 12 pro slams including 2 career GS would be in > *every* goat conversation.>
rofl! if emerson had his record - 12 total slams and 2 career >>>>>> GS's, he'd be ahead of sampras and borg for sure, only laver would >>>>>> challenge him as 'goat'.>>>>>>
No he wouldn't as he'd have only 6 blue-chips, which is same as Lendl.>>>>>
It would simply mean he was versatile, but not in goat conversation.>>>>
you're delusional.>>>>
6 blue-chips can be goat....?>>>
..& I'm delusional?>>
clearly. anyone with 12 pro slams including 2 career GS would be in >> *every* goat conversation.>>
6 is lightweight for goat consideration.
yet they'd be in every conversation anyway. hmm, maybe your system doesn't reflect the values of the tennis community. go figure.
-- "when i visited Aden before collectivization, all the markets were full of fish product. After collectivization, the fish immediately disappeared."
whisper's system actually does have a lot going for it. 7/5/4/3 does correctly capture the fact that W is the most prestigious slam and the AO least prestigious, and FO/USO are close in the middle (though i'd say FO=USO).
but it doesn't take into account Grand Slam achievements (career, NCY, CY), which surely have great value in the tennis community. heck, laver is #1 all time on most lists almost entirely because of his two CYGS.
perhaps because sampras never won one ... ?
-- "when i visited Aden before collectivization, all the markets were full of fish product. After collectivization, the fish immediately disappeared."
rofl! if emerson had his record - 12 total slams and 2 career >>>>>>> GS's, he'd be ahead of sampras and borg for sure, only laver >>>>>>> would challenge him as 'goat'.>>>>>>>
No he wouldn't as he'd have only 6 blue-chips, which is same as >>>>>> Lendl.>>>>>>
It would simply mean he was versatile, but not in goat conversation.>>>>>
you're delusional.>>>>>
6 blue-chips can be goat....?>>>>
..& I'm delusional?>>>
clearly. anyone with 12 pro slams including 2 career GS would be in >>> *every* goat conversation.>>>
6 is lightweight for goat consideration.>
yet they'd be in every conversation anyway. hmm, maybe your system > doesn't reflect the values of the tennis community. go figure.>
It does, as we already have real life eg in Don Budge - 6 slams including calendar slam, b2b Wim/USO (wow!) - yet never mentioned in tier 1.
whisper's system actually does have a lot going for it. 7/5/4/3 does > correctly capture the fact that W is the most prestigious slam and the > AO least prestigious, and FO/USO are close in the middle (though i'd say > FO=USO).>
but it doesn't take into account Grand Slam achievements (career, NCY, > CY), which surely have great value in the tennis community. heck, laver > is #1 all time on most lists almost entirely because of his two CYGS.>
perhaps because sampras never won one ... ?>
There are 5 guys who won career slam, & Laver is the only tier 1 guy - come on, all this is kid stuff.
Of course winning all 4 in any sequence is very noteworthy, but need a lot more to make tier 1.
"Many people take away things from Sampras because he never won the>>French, saying his career was not complete, which I totally don't>>agree with. I think he had the best career of any player ever, you>>know? So to say his career is not complete, that is not fair,''>>Federer said in a phone interview.>
It is accurate so in what respect is it not fair? Maybe Federer can> read the writing on the wall. If he doesn't win the FO, he'll face the> same music.
you don't have to be a genius to figure that out.
no one will ever dog federer for not winning more Ws, but not winning an Fo will haunt him forever. might as well remove the monkey before it becomes an 800-lb gorilla (as per sampras).
-- "when i visited Aden before collectivization, all the markets were full of fish product. After collectivization, the fish immediately disappeared."
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