No one really knows, how much you can really read into this win.
On the face of it, it appeared Sampras was feeling more and more comfortable on the court, as the matches progressed. His first match against Federer must have had some nerves to it.
After all, you have not played tour tennis for five years, and you are facing the current and maybe the future king of tennis, in a hyped up series.
If everything is on the up and up, maybe Sampras comfort level and Federer’s complacency, combined to produce the win for Sampras. Irrespective of how lackadaisical Federer may have been, it is impossible to imagine that he did not turn it up, when the match started to get close, knowing how intensely competitive he is, and how hard he takes his losses.
Keep in mind, Sampras is exactly ten years older at 36. Considering that some 20-year olds have problem winning their service games against Federer, Sampras must be mighty pleased. Unless the organizers had to get so pathetic, to whitewash it so blatantly.
Specially since this was the last of the the three matches, unless Federer was attempting to create some buzz for the fourth one, scheduled in March next year.
It may be safe to assume, that Sampras can muster enough game, to win in patches, if he elects to join the tour. After all, it has been done before, by Connors, Agassi etc. With the current crop of players, having no clue, how to handle a serve and volley animal, Sampras may have some success.
Sampras obviously did not expect this result. But when he got down to it, his competitive juices started flowing, and with what was at stake for just one showing, he put everything into it. There is no question, he prepared very seriously for this.
Sampras is a very sensitive, shy, private and introverted joker. He does not seem to have the thick skin, to take all the battering from the media, if his return to tour, sours. It’s time for him to give up that goody goody image, and follow his passion, without it getting dictated by the world.
That was one of the reasons Jordan retired, after that epic basket in the finals against Utah. But he soon realized, it’s his life, and he doesn’t have to do what the rest of the world expects. Although that return fell short of expectations, he felt redeemed, to have done what his heart desired.
Many athletes feel that they would be jeopardizing their legacy, if they came out of retirement and failed miserably. Talk about an overdose of ego. In fact, history proves, that nothing of that sort happens. Jordan is still Jordan and Ali is still Ali, despite not meeting the fan expectations.
What if he comes up, just to win the French Open, and tries to for at least three years? With Nadal faltering, and no real threat on the red surface yet, maybe both Federer and Sampras can make a deal.
Someone drag this joker out of retirement, already. What have you got to loose? You are going to lose the all-time great title very soon, anyway.
Sampras, you may very well save your marriage, with this one stroke. You have heard of ‘Familiarity breeds contempt’, haven’t you?
