Sampras to Djokovic: "Give me this service turn!"
Pete Sampras and Novak Djokovic celebrated five victories at the ATP Finals in the course of their careers. Tim Henman interviewed the two all-time greats before the tournament started.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit:
Nov 10, 2020, 01:25 pm
What if Sampras could choose one thing that he could have from Novak Djokovic? "That would be his return", said "Pistol Pete" without hesitation. In the course of his career, Andre Agassi had also played one of the best return players of all time, but: "Against Andre, I always somehow got past when I hit my corners. It would be more difficult with Novak because he is so good can stretch. "And:" I would also take some of his speed. "
Djokovic in return? “I wouldn't mind trading my return and my speed for your serve and volley game. It would be great to experience this kind of match-up. ”By the way, it would actually be - it is unlikely to happen. Unless Sampras, now a slim 49-year-old, would return to the field after his career ended in 2002.
Djokovic admires Sampras for handling pressure
Djokovic, he continued, first became really aware of the ATP Finals through Sampras when he was playing them. “I say it a lot, I always looked up to Pete. He was definitely my role model. ”He couldn't claim that he copied Sampras,“ because my game is completely different, ”said the world number one. “But I admired the way he dealt with pressure situations. That he played his best tennis when he needed it most. He always met his first service and always kept his nerve. "
The finals both praised that it was "the ultimate challenge", said Djokovic, to compete against the others from the top 8 in the world. His maiden victory in Shanghai over Nikolai Davydenko in 2008 would have "screwed his self-confidence into the sky, I really had the feeling: Yes, I belong!"
One of his best triumphs: 2012 against Federer in the final, with a backhand pass along the line, "that was definitely one of my best strokes in such a situation."
Sampras vs Becker - the big duels
Sampras' memories also revolved around the games against Boris Becker in Frankfurt and Hanover. “Boris played great indoors, had a strong game over serve, he was a very impressive person on the pitch because he is also very tall. And his supporters… that was tough. ”Sampras said that it was very helpful for him that he was very calm and was able to assess the situation well. He won the 1996 final against Becker in one of the best tennis players of all time. Becker had then declared that he had just played his best match of all time.
But two years later, at the end of 1998, it was no fun. Sampras was on the verge of finishing first in the world for the sixth time in a row, making history. "It was a unique opportunity to break this record," said Sampras. He finally made it with a huge final spurt, "but it hit me hard, cost me a lot of energy, especially emotionally."
This record is accordingly at the top of his achievements. “I've won a lot of majors, other things too. But to be at the top for six years in a row at the end of the year, that was my greatest achievement. "This is what Djokovic also sees, who will be at the top for the sixth time this year , albeit with interruptions:" Six years in a row at the top - my greatest respect for it, Pete. "