Understanding the Pete Sampras Enigma
Although widely touted as one of the greatest all-round male tennis professional ever, many cannot help wondering why the American ace’s matches are so likely to be overlooked when one begins to list some of the game’s most memorable showdowns in history. Experts say there are a number of elements in all Pete Sampras performances that contribute to this paradox, and some of these reasons are much more intricate than most would expect.
Of course an important reason why most Pete Sampras displays was rather unremarkable largely due to his playing technique. Many of the American’s performances comprised of a small set of unvarying tactics, all centred on a manner of playing that relied quite heavily on serve-volleying. Lamentably, this produced a somewhat colourless and monotonous spectacle for onlookers. There is nothing of the sort of excitement roused by Boris “Boom Boom” Becker’s energetic volleys or the aggressive serves of Bjorn “Ice” Borg. However Sampras was not the lone absolute serve- volleyer on the circuit. Tim Henman and Pat Rafter are other notable agents of this style; yet the fact remains that the Sampras game was much duller than either of theirs. This has led pundits to conclude that there is more to the puzzle than what meets the eye.
True, Sampras is acknowledged is the epitome of a well-rounded player, yet there are some features of his playing style that remain inferior to the master class displays produced by some of the other players on the grid. For example, when it came to the tempo of serves, the Sampras skill is by far overshadowed by the formidable Mark Philippoussis, GoranIvenisevic and Greg Rusedski displays. As far as the return of serves is concerned, it is Andre Agassi, and not Pete Sampras, who comes to mind as an undisputed master. Pete Sampras could not give the Swedish maestro, Bjorn Borg, a run for his money when it came to the calibre of his ground-strokes, a benchmark many believe someone has yet to emulate. From amongst the American’s contemporaries, Gustavo “Guga” Kurten would produce the choice ground-strokes and Tim Henman, Stefan Edburg and John McEnroe are renowned for their volleys in a way Pete Sampras is not. When it came to physical toughness, Pete Rafter is widely acknowledged to be one of the most robust players on the tour, a notch above Sampras. However it is the American’s tenacious mentality that gives him a serious psychological edge on court, a trait many believe to be his biggest strength; yet after the epic 2001 Wimbledon finals battle, Goran Ivanisevic could reasonably lay claim the mantle of the most resolute player in the circuit.
Then what it is that made Sampras so invincible? The answer is that although the American is not an absolute master of every feature of the game, he is nevertheless uniformly adept at all of its vital elements. And this is a feat none of his contemporaries has been able to match with so much success. Although Ivenisevic possessed precision, his tempestuous disposition is a hindrance on court. Rusedski had a ferocious serve, yet lacked the crucial element of focus. Any gains from the physicality of Rafter’s game were often downplayed by the injuries that arise from this very approach. This explains why Sampras was so often able to demolish his opponents and why his games are not so memorable.
There are also some other elements to the Sampras perplexity. His “go in and get the job done” attitude on court produced some incredibly composed and self-possessed performances that ensure his victory over less self-contained players like Ivanisevic, who find it very difficult to remain so level-headed. Interestingly enough, modern tennis is more than just about the game; it has become impossible to overlook the element of glitz and glamour that has crept into the professional arena ever since the Russian beauty, Anna Kournikova, known more for her physical appeal than her tennis, stepped on to the platform. In simple terms, Pete Sampras was never quite up there with female pin-ups of today, whose matches are coveted for something more than just the game itself.
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