Pete Sampras thinks Roger Federer still maintains his high level – Tennis News
Legendary American tennis player, Pete Sampras, has said that he has not seen any decline in Swiss Maestro, Roger Federer’s game.
In a recent interview, Sampras has backed his friend to capture more Grand Slam titles and break more records in the coming future. The American also believes that Federer can win at least one more title at the Wimbledon Championships.
It is pertinent to note that Federer is the same player who ended Sampras’ reign at the All England Club by defeating him in the round of 16 in 2001.
Federer is the winner of most Grand Slams in the history of the sport with 16 but he has failed to grab any in the last 26 months. His last success at a Major came at the 2010 Australian Open, when he downed Britain’s Andy Murray
to lift the crown.
However, Sampras still believes that no one should leave out the Swiss Maestro from the list of favourites at Grand Slams. The American said, when asked if Federer is left with the potential of winning any more Majors, “Yes, I
still think Roger can win a slam. He still seems very motivated. He loves to travel, he loves to play. He’s sort of a young 30-year-old. He’s very eager, he plays a lot, he loves the lifestyle of being on the road.”
On Federer’s chances of winning at Wimbledon, the American said,
“Listen, he’s a strong favourite, as is Novak, as is Rafa, it’s really, not a lot separates the top three or four guys.”
The Swiss Maestro clinched latest of his six titles at the Wimbledon Championships in 2009 by beating old foe, Andy Roddick, in a five setter thrilling final.
Sampras added, when he was inquired of his feelings on his records getting broken by the 30-year-old, “I’m used to Roger breaking my records, that’s the way it’s been for a number of years. There’s nothing I can do about it. I
would just sit here being impressed at what Roger’s been able to do.”
The American had the record of capturing most Majors for nine years but Federer broke it by winning the Wimbledon Championships in 2009. The Swiss Maestro also surpassed Sampras’ record of most prize money earned in the whole career.
Federer is now only one title away from equalling the American’s record of seven Wimbledon crowns and one short of his record of most weeks as the world number one.
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