American Pete Sampras said Thursday that the Spanish Rafael Nadal, world number 1 and U.S. Open champions, "is continuing" and "a beast" who "works hard every point," and that looks likely that the Roger Federer island exceeds the number of Grand Slams.
American Pete Sampras said Thursday that the Spanish Rafael Nadal, world number 1 and U.S. Open champions, "is continuing" and "a beast" who "works hard every point," and that the island is likely to overtake Roger Federer in the number of Grand Slams.
"The only question is how long can Rafa support your body physically with how hard he works every point. Just look at him play, the guy is relentless," said Sampras, who lifted 64 titles in its ten-year career, from 1988 to 2003. In addition, said the world number 1 is "a beast on the court and is able to overtake Roger Federer as the player who more Grand Slam tournaments won. "If you are smart with your calendar and taking into account that has so many titles at such a young age, may be quiet," he said.
Nadal, 24, scored his ninth trophy in Grand Slam events by winning the U.S. Open earlier this month and became the seventh man to conquer the four major tennis tournaments. For his part, Federer holds the record for major titles such -16 -, with which he left behind previous record of 14 that belonged to the American retired Sampras, who said that Nadal does not need to be considered one of the best because their successes speak for themselves. "He's won all the big tournaments. Won the Olympics. He has mastered his main rival, Roger," Sampras continued, referring to the record of 14 wins and seven defeats Spanish favors in duels with the Swiss. "I do not think their goal are 16, 17 or 18 (Grand Slam titles), he just goes to be improving as a player and if that happens, great. Could do it. There is much work to do and he works too hard in every match he plays, but is a beast, "he reiterated.
The praise for Nadal did not let you forget Sampras Federer. "He's a great big favorite in every tournament he plays. She had two match points against Djokovic," said Sampras of defeat the Swiss in five sets against Serbia in the semifinals of the recent U.S. Open. "They could have been in the final.'s Playing well, I see no great decline. Other guys are playing better. The next two or three years is a challenge. But Roger is up to and can win more titles," he said.
Although Sampras would not enter into the debate over who is the best tennis player ever. "Everyone wants to appoint one. As I see it, in all sports, especially tennis, every generation has its own player. In 60's was Laver, Lendl and McEnroe were in the 80, Andre and I in the 90's. It is difficult to answer. Every decade has its own, "continued U.S. also included in its list Bjorn Borg and Don Budge." But Rafa is definitely at that point. One must put it in the first three or four times what has been achieved and it is not over yet. He is in the middle of his career, so you can achieve a lot more, "he said.