Old pro Sampras pays tribute to retiring Federer

Pete Sampras has paid tribute to his tennis heir Roger Federer as the Swiss plays his final career match on Friday at the Laver Cup.

Sampras, who held what had looked to be the historic record of 14 Grand Slam title until Federer surpassed it with his own 15th at Wimbledon, 2009, quietly faded from the tennis scene after retirement after winning the 2002 US Open.  

In a rare public statement the 51-year-old – a decade older than Federer, Sampras paid tribute to the player who is considered among the best to ever pick up a racquet.

“I’ll start at the beginning, the first time we met, at Wimbledon,: the American said in a message to Federer, who beat him in their lone meeting in the Wimbledon fourth round, 2001.

“You were 19 years old, a promising player that people were talking about. And you beat me, a really special player. 

“I could not imagine that twenty years later you would have 20 Grand Slams and have achieved everything. I admire the way you’ve handled it, from start to finish. 

“You have not changed in all these years, you are true to yourself. We are all sad with your departure, but it is part of the sport. You will be missed .”

Federer will bow out of competitive tennis Friday evening when he teams with Rafael Nadal in a doubles rubber at the the Europe v World Laver Cup in London’s O2 arena.

Main photo:- Pete Sampras claims record 13th title and 7th Wimbledon Men’s Title beating Pat Rafter in 2000 – by Roger Parker Fotosports International

Bill Scott

Recent Posts

Draper devours semi-final bagel to finally school Alcaraz

Jack Draper will crack the ATP top 10 for the first time after the Brit defeated two-time…

4 hours ago

Swiatek breaks the speed limit in rapid-fire win

Iga Swiatek switched to warp speed after rain delayed her fourth-round match by an hour,…

4 days ago

Alcaraz hits 14 in a row at Indian Wells

Two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz ran his hot streak at the Indian Wells Masters to 14…

5 days ago

Sabalenka steamrolls modest Italian opposition

Aryna Sabalenka spent just an hour and a quarter in dispatching Italian Lucia Bronzetti 6-1,…

5 days ago

Gauff scrapes through despite double-fault disaster

Coco Gauff wasted five match points while double-faulting four times in the final game but managed…

5 days ago

Draper increasing confidence with IW win

Jack Draper used the confidence earned just weeks ago in Australia to power past Jensen Brooksby…

5 days ago