11/21/24
May 16, 2003
So long Pistol Pete?: Sampras pulls out of Wimbledon (and two other tournaments). Is his professional career essentially over? Where does he land with regards to the other greats in Tennis History?
posted by Ufez Jones to tennis at 12:04 PM - 9 comments
said the echo echo. (one too many pints at lunch)
posted by garfield at 12:20 PM on May 16, 2003
Pete, by winning last year's US Open, did indeed win his 14th Grand Slam. What he's missing is a French Open title. I wonder if he might just play that one this year.
posted by worldcup2002 at 12:59 PM on May 16, 2003
Oops, just read the article, looks like he pulled out of the French, too. Well, I think his injuries got the better off him. He's done.
posted by worldcup2002 at 01:00 PM on May 16, 2003
He lands exactly at the top of the list. The single asterisk of any kind is the French. Agassi is the only other player of that generation of lasting consequence, and his career Grand Slam is very impressive indeed. But let's not kid ourselves. Sampras is the only serious contender for the best tennis player ever, the one by whose game everyone else's will be measured. On the other hand, I will admit that Agassi is a good candidate for the most gifted player ever, although I would give the nod to McEnroe, at least among the players I've watched. People are always carrying on about how boring the power game is, but there is some joy in watching an approach to perfection. Every point begins with the serve, the most important shot in the game, so it's ridiculous to penalize Pete style points for developing the best first and second serve in the history of the sport. His other strokes are pretty good, too, right? The most awesomely invincible-looking display of tennis I have ever seen is Sampras's three set whipping of Agassi at Wimbledon in 1999. And is there anything in tennis to compare to his "slam dunk" overhead? (Never mind that "bola" shot, okay? Lots of people can do that.) Tidbits --most weeks at #1 --most consecutive weeks at #1 --most Grand Slams (no active player is even close) --fourth on career titles list --won his first US Open by beating McEnroe, Lendl, and Agassi.
posted by jason streed at 02:38 PM on May 16, 2003
Pete is probably the best ever. He's certainly the most hirsute champion of all time, and that's saying something. For most talented of all time, you can make a pretty good case for Bjorn Borg.
posted by vito90 at 02:53 PM on May 16, 2003
Hirsute Scroll down a bit and take a gander at these sites. I had no idea this was a fetish. I learn something new everyday.
posted by garfield at 03:02 PM on May 16, 2003
um, zoinks, garfield. Friendly Reminder: French Open starts in ten days.
posted by Ufez Jones at 03:35 PM on May 16, 2003
See also Joe Clark's articles on Pete Sampras as sexual persona and hirsute men in sports.
posted by kirkaracha at 03:47 PM on May 16, 2003
Consistency being the hallmark of greatness, and with 13 Slams, he's the best player I'll probably see in my life time. At almost 33, a comeback is not impossible, but if he lacks the 'mad-man' desire to train, he simply won't do it. His work-ethic is legendary, and if that's lacking he probably won't attempt a 14th.