Sampras mentioned that the level and depth of competition, he had to deal with, was much more talented and fierce, than faced by Federer. The fact has been repeated and agreed to, by most experts and commentators. Here is an analysis. What do you think?
These are the players, Sampras and Federer had to overcome, in the final rounds, to win each of the Grand Slam:
| Year | Name | Opponents faced to win Slam | AU | FR | WB | US | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Pete Sampras | Lendl, McEnroe and Agassi | - | - | - | One | ONE |
| 1993 | Agassi, Becker and Courier | - | - | One | - | TWO | |
| 1993 | Michael Chang and A. Volvo | - | - | - | One | THREE | |
| 1994 | Lendl, Courier and Martin | One | - | - | - | FOUR | |
| 1994 | Chang, Martin & Ivanisevic | - | - | One | - | FIVE | |
| 1995 | Ivanisevic and Becker | - | - | One | - | SIX | |
| 1995 | Courier and Agassi | - | - | - | One | SEVEN | |
| 1996 | Ivanisevic and Chang | - | - | - | One | EIGHT | |
| 1997 | Muster and C. Moya | One | - | - | - | NINE | |
| 1997 | B. Becker & Pioline | - | - | One | - | TEN | |
| 1998 | Henman & Ivanisevic | - | - | One | - | ELEVEN | |
| 1999 | Henman & Agassi | - | - | One | - | TWELVE | |
| 2000 | Patrick Rafter | - | - | One | - | THIRTEEN | |
| 2002 | Haas, Roddick & Agassi | - | - | - | One | FOURTEEN | |
| ==== | ===== | ===== | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2003 | Roger Federer | Philliposis & Roddick | One | ONE | |||
| 2004 | Ferrero & Safin | One | - | - | - | TWO | |
| 2004 | Grosjean & Roddick | - | - | One | - | THREE | |
| 2004 | Ferrerro & Safin | - | - | - | One | FOUR | |
| 2005 | Hewitt & Roddick | - | - | One | - | FIVE | |
| 2005 | Hewitt & Agassi | - | - | - | One | SIX | |
| 2006 | Kiefer & Baghdatis | One | - | - | - | SEVEN | |
| 2006 | Bjorkman & Nadal | - | - | One | - | EIGHT | |
| 2006 | Davydenko & Roddick | - | - | - | One | NINE | |
| 2007 | Roddick & Gonzalez | One | - | - | - | TEN |
When we analyse the above data, here are some of the conclusions:
-Hall of Famers during Sampras reign:
- I. Lendl.
- J. McEnroe.
- A. Agassi.
- B. Becker.
- J. Courier.
- P. Rafter.
-Possible the only Hall of Famer against Federer:
- R. Nadal – with a winning record against Federer.
In Federer’s defense, you cannot ignore this: It could be, that Federer’s talent is so much superior, that players who could have been Hall of Famers during Sampras’s reign, are relegated to mediocre status. His breaking of Connors’s streak of no. 1 ranking, could be proof enough, that for the past three years, no one has been able, to even come close. You cannot do that, for that long a period, without dazzling talent. He has lost just 5 matches, in each of the last three years. How unbelievable is that?!!!
