The Aussie Open

Wow, the last three matches I've watched (both men's semis and the women's final) have been absolute butt-kickings. Serena is the baddest woman on the planet, she took Sharapova out to the woodshed.

And Federer? He's clearly, easily the class of the field, and yes he is THAT GOOD. He absolutely is. The only question, at all, is: can he sustain it? Or will he flame out? Federer's been #1 in the world for two and a half years now, which sounds awesome until you realize Sampras was #1 for six straight years. Federer's won 9 slams, over halfway to Sampras' record. Sampras ruled Wimbledon like UCLA used to rule basketball, he won every Wimbledon from 1993 through 2000 (except for '96 when he somehow lost to Krajicek). Sampras was ranked #1 for 286 weeks. Federer has 156.

Federer has to do two things to be "the best ever": he has to win the French, which Sampras never did. And he has to beat Sampras' record of being #1 for six straight years. If he does those things, and I have no doubt he CAN, then yes he'll be the unquestioned "best ever".

The bigger question is: could Sampras, at his best, match Federer when Federer is at his best? I think he could, but that's one of those geek-out questions ("who would win in a fight, The Green Arrow or Aquaman?"). Maybe a clue is their 2001 Wimbledon final: at the tail end of his career, Sampras did lose to Federer, but it was a close five-setter: 7-6, 5-7, 6-4, 6-7, 7-5. About as close as it can get. If they were both at their peak, the edge would have to go to Sampras. :thumbsup:

But Federer is just getting better and better. He may not be at his peak yet.

Seriously the guy is amazing, and if he keeps it up he will definitely be the best ever. He's a little over halfway there. And I like how Andy Roddick said it in his best-ever press conference; they asked what Gonzales' or Haas' chances against Federer would be in the final and Roddick just said "slim."

Now, with that said, Gonzales served up Haas on a silver platter with a side of hush puppies and a pickle. It was a Federer-style whoopin'. If he can play that well again, it may just be an interesting final!
 
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wouldn't it be awesome if gonzalez just smoked federer? Just embarrassed him? if there's one person who could do it, it would be him. cause he has the potential to play lights out. unfortunately, I don't think it'll happen. I don't think he believes he can win.
 
c.g._eads said:
Yeah but did you ever consider that he makes everyone around him look bad? That that's the reason he's assumed to have no competition? When you're so good, everyone around you looks that much worse.
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No. The field just isn't that good. It's a field full of Pat Cashes and Tim Mayottes. There's nothing WRONG with the other players, but Federer is currently the only one who can play at the level of the greats.

In 100 years, there have been so many weaker fields than this one.
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OK, when was that? Who were the players?


I wish they'd do one of those Rocky 6 computer generated matches. Then we could settle this once and for all.
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I'm SURE a computer simulation would settle it.

And for every Cliff Drysdale, there's a Mats Wilander, who said that Federer would fold like a paper bag if he was ever seriously challenged . . . and Wilander, unlike Drysdale, actually has the benefit of being shown to be right.

Still, even if Drysdale is right, and peak Federer wins 7 out of 10 against peak Sampras, that still drops Federer's stats considerably. And, it goes a long way toward supporting what I'm saying about Federer looking better than he is because he has no rivals, unlike other greats.
 
I would jump for joy if Gonzo won; he is peaking no doubt. He has taken out the 4 seeded players (as has Fed). This is the time in Fed's career where he will truly be defined. This is where 9 becomes 10, becomes 11, etc

To this day; I say Sampras would take Federer purely on his serve alone. Sampras was the most cluth server ever and even Agassi, widely known to have the best return of serve ever, just got Aced on all the right points. As good as Fed is; he wouldn't handle Sampras' ace serve (no one could)


if there's one person who could do it, it would be him
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Actually; Nadal and Murray could do it. :happy:

Yeah but did you ever consider that he makes everyone around him look bad? That that's the reason he's assumed to have no competition? When you're so good, everyone around you looks that much worse.
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I still cannot waver on this one. I can barely see a player in the Top 10 that is capable of being great. Not because Federer is beating people, but because of a lack of parity.

Compare him to every great player, stroke by stroke, and I dare you to tell me anyone's better.
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Serve - Sampras
Return of Serve - Agassi, and then Connors
Net - Borg

Winning on Clay - (Cough cough) Best Ever ? The French Open is a testament in Men's Tennis and to those who have captured all 4 Slams on all 4 surfaces. I might add, that Connors won the U.S. Open on Grass, Hard and Clay.

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One thing is I want to see with Roger is a sack check. We need a player to push him to the edge to see how he responds. Like Jordan scoring 38 with the flu ...

When Federer loses; he loses with drama. When he wins, is without drama.

I want to see Game 5, 7-6 (10 - 8) in the Final of a Slam. A moment that defines a champion; fighting and bleeding in the trenches.

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John_Hudson said:
Like Jordan scoring 38 with the flu ...
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Or Sampras stopping the match in the middle of a 5th-set tiebreaker(!) so he could barf his guts out (!!!), then CONTINUING TO PLAY, and WINNING. Then immediately checking into the hospital for an intravenous treatment for dehydration. Then coming back to win the entire tournament (the 1996 US Open) by blitzing Michael Chang in straight sets.
http://www.geocities.com/hovav13/art-Sampras_survives_Corretja.html

Gotta love Federer, but Sampras is still the greatest to ever play the game. So far.
 
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LOL

Too true

I could notbelieve the level of play she sustained last night. The womens tour just got more interesting

Where's Capriati ?
 
My brush with greatness story for the day:

I shot a match between Capriati and Seles about 6 or 7 years ago at the former "IGA Classic" which was held in OKC. Seles won but I don't recall that she dominated.
 
Capriati's father was in attendance and letting his presence be known. He seemed more like a tyrant than a father.
 
David Jimerson said:
Capriati is probably off getting fat, like usual.
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Why you disrespecting my girl ? She had one of the biggest comebacks in sports history. No love.

Here she is 17 days ago:

f_31.jpg


Sooo fat. This girl would wipe your ass all over the court.

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The power of the WWW

SELES 6-3 5-7 6-2
 
Absolutely she would, despite her well-documented fitness struggles, but I suck.

"One of the biggest comebacks in sports history?" That's a teensy bit of a stretch, isn't it?

I don't take anything away from her for ability, but she's NOT one of the all-time greats.
 
A gold she beat Steffi Graff at who was in her prime we might add !

as well as ...

And a 3 Time Grand Slam Champion

A former ESPY Winner for Comeback Player of the year (nominess in that category that year were Michael Jordan and Mario Lemioux)

A former Number 1 Player

And Tennis Magazine Rated her Number 36 in Top 40 Players EVER

And Dave calls her a sow.

(The shame)
 
Barry_Green said:
Capriati was very talented. She's an Olympic Gold Medalist, fer cryin' out loud! :)
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She was also the ITF World Champion.

Her problem (hence my comment) is that she's never been able to sustain it. Poor consistency.
 
Dave, don't be a hater. She was fantastic. She was also a little kid, she got sidetracked, she messed up. Then she got herself straight and came back bigtime. If she's done with tennis, she's done and that's her perogative, but she was a great player.
 
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