How many five-setters have these two jokers played in a Grand Slam? What does it say about the depth of the competition, individual skill, endurance etc.?
Can we just stop with the freaking lack of competition debate, once and for all, after these stats?
How come Sampras had to go the distance against every Tom, Dick and Harry in the early rounds of a Grand Slam? Players who have taken Federer to a five-setter have much stronger and worthy credentials like Nadal, Safin and Haas compared to journey men like Korda, Jaime, Jordi etc. for Sampras. Just take this debate and bury it TODAY.
Well, Federer is still not done with his career. But overall, the record as it stands today is 9-32 for Federer. OK, how many at this age? Sampras at 26 years had 22 to 9 from Federer.
But it certainly points to better endurance and physical prowess, for Sampras. In fact, Sampras won three straight five-setters at Roland Garros, in 1996 against Sergi, Todd Martin and Jim Courier – not really some tomato cans.
Also notice, when Sampras gets deep in the draw he is almost invincible. For his entire career, he had just two semifinal and one final five-setter. Federer already has one both for semis and the finals.
Is Federer now getting into the five-set era of his career? Was the Wimbledon final a precursor of things to come? If so, it will also answer the question of his physical conditioning, so often questioned by some.
| Player | Grand Slam | Yr | Opponent | Round | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger 1 | AO | 2006 | Haas | 4 | |||
| 2 | AO | 2005 | Safin | S | |||
| 3 | AO | 2003 | Nalbandian | 4 | |||
| 4 | AO | 2002 | Haas | 4 | |||
| 5 | Wimb | 2007 | Nadal | F | |||
| 6 | Wimb | 2001 | Sampras | 4 | |||
| 7 | USO | 2004 | Agassi | Q | |||
| 8 | RG | 2001 | Sargis | 3 | |||
| 9 | RG | 2000 | Michel | 3 | |||
| Player | Grand Slam | Yr | Opponent | Round | Grand Slam | Yr / Opponent | Round. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sampras 1 | AO | 1997 | Albert | Q | 26-RG | 1999-Marin | 1 |
| 2 | 1995 | Magnus | 4 | 27 | 1996-Sergi | 2 | |
| 3 | 1995 | Courier | Q | 28 | 1996-Todd | 3 | |
| 4 | 1994 | Kafelnikov | 2 | 29 | 1996-Courier | Q | |
| 5 | 1990 | Mayotte | 2 | 30 | 1995-Gilbert | 1 | |
| 6 | 1990 | Jordi | 3 | 31 | 1992-Marc | 1 | |
| 7 | Wimb | 2002 | Bastl | 2 | 32 | 1991-Muster | 1 |
| 8 | 2001 | Cowan | 2 | ||||
| 9 | 2001 | Federer | 4 | ||||
| 10 | 1998 | Goran | F | ||||
| 11 | 1997 | Korda | 4 | ||||
| 12 | 1995 | Goran | S | ||||
| 13 | 1993 | Agassi | Q | ||||
| 14 | USO | 2002 | Rusedski | 3 | |||
| 15 | 1998 | Rafter | S | ||||
| 16 | 1997 | Korda | 4 | ||||
| 17 | 1996 | Novak | 3 | ||||
| 18 | 1994 | Jaime | 4 | ||||
| 19 | 1992 | Todd | 3 | ||||
| 20 | 1992 | Guy | 4 | ||||
| 21 | 1990 | Lendl | Q | ||||
| 22 | 1989 | Wilander | 2 | ||||
| 23 | 1988 | Jaime | 1 | ||||
| 24 | RG | 2001 | Cedric | 1 | |||
| 25 | 2000 | Mark Philip.. | 1 |
