However, Sampras has won both of their meetings in Grand Slam finals. Novak Djokovic e Rafael Nadal sono nella storia del tennis.La frase potr apparire pleonastica, basta guardare tutti i titoli e i record che continuano da oltre 15 anni ad accumulare (ultimo in . PETE didnt have rivals, just guys who he let win from time to time before beating them up the next time they met. The 2017 Australian Open saw both Federer and Nadal defy age and perception to showcase their class and longevity by making it to the final. Fittingly, playing for Europe versus the Rest of the world in London, Federer teamed up with his greatest rival and friend Rafael Nadal in his farewell match. width: 32px; display: none !important; If Petes go-to play would be the net rush, Rafas would be the same one that he has used to win hundreds of other matches: The high-kicking crosscourt forehand into his opponents backhand. Officials have confirmed that the pair's 59th career meeting will be the late match under the lights of Court Philippe Chatrier. That shouldnt be a surprise, considering that the two are tied with 14 major titles apiece, and each has dominated one SlamNadal at the French Open, Sampras at Wimbledon. Sampras owned Rafter early on (hence their lopsided H2H) but in the late 90s they had a really hard-fought rivalry that got quite acrimonious at times. He followed in the footsteps of Bjorn Borg to combine an icy demeanor on court with an equally brutal game to dominate tennis for nearly two decades. And Sampras is in little doubt that Nadal, who will go for a ninth French Open title in June, has many more Grand Slam titles in him. Despite the fact that Nadal won the fifth set in a five-set match, he still came up short. Since 2004, two names have dominated men's tennis: Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Pete Sampras (L) and Andre Agassi after their 2002 US Open final | AFP. It ended with Nadal winning his first Australian Open title with a 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2 victory in the final which lasted four hours and 23 minutes. Regarded as one of the best Australian Open tournaments in history, the 2009 final fittingly threw up another classic Federer vs Nadal clash. ATP & WTA Pete Sampras head to head tennis search. The Montana women's tennis team received a 5-2 loss to Sacramento State, in California.Montana now prepares for one of its biggest matchups of the season when the Montana State Bobcats visit . I can call up Rafa and talk about anything, I hope he feels the same way, said Federer. It made the rivalry stand out like no other. The two have faced each other 58 times, more than any other player. .is-mobile .scores-daily-schedule-content td.day-table-seed, .scores-results-content td.day-table-seed { Novak Djokovic Andy Murray 25-11. Why certain tennis prodigies burned out early? This was the third-consecutive time that Federer and Nadal were contesting the Wimbledon final, with Federer winning the preceding two. The duo have faced each other 18 times at a grand slam: three times at Wimbledon, three times at the US Open, twice at the Australian Open and ten times at the French Open. Pete Sampras was World Number 1 for 286 weeks . His consistent placement of his ball toss, combined with his long throwing motion, nearly made it impossible for his opponents to read where it was going. He always seemed. The Ball Must Bounce Within The Confines Of The Court To Be Considered In, The Perfect String Tension For Your Tennis Game, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga: A French Professional Tennis Player, How To Wear Tennis Shoes With A Button Shirt, How To Feed Your Tennis Ball-loving YouTube Addiction. Nadal and Sampras first played each other in the third round of the 2004 Wimbledon Championships, with Nadal winning in straight sets. A rivalry and friendship like no other, the world may never witness anything like the Fedal story ever again in tennis. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Most people on this Forum (not all!) He was probably Sampras's biggest rival at Wimbledon, but that was literally the only venue their rivalry existed at all. He was well-known for his serve and volley combinations and served ace in high-pressure situations. "Realistically, he could very well get 17, 18 majors when it's all said and done. Rafa is at 6th with 209 weeks at Number 1. You must log in or register to reply here. Nadal also had other points of reference at a young age: "I was . Still, Djokovic needs French and Olympic for the coveted gold slam. When the 2nd half of the season hit, he had no equals as he prevailed more times than not on the big stage in the big matches. If he was ever to retire, he might be the greatest player of all time. font-size:15px; His arm was the size of a minor cannon at his peak during his career. On clay, Djokovic is the player who most challenged the Spaniard. Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi played each other a total of 34 times with the first Sampras vs Agassi match being in Rome in 1989. Both Sampras and Nadal have had tremendous careers and are considered two of the greatest players of all time. font-size:15px; If you could only win one slam, which would it be? 2 Nadal in the second . The Spanish Nadal is the winner of sixteen Grand Slam titles, including five consecutive French Open singles titles from 2010-2014, and is the only player ever to win a Grand Slam for ten straight years. He won the 2016 Monte Carlo Masters title, his most recent ATP 1000 title, as well. Nadal, on the other hand, had not won a Grand Slam since the 2014 French Open and had not made a Grand Slam quarter-final since the 2015 French Open. Roger Federer eventually triumphed 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3; coming back from 3-1 down in the final set to win five games in a row and take his 18th Grand Slam title. Pete Sampras won 14 Grand Slam titles whereas Andre Agassi won 8 Grand Slam titles In his career. For obvious reasons I have excluded Masters. On the other hand, a racket with a smaller head will offer more control, but you'll need to be more accurate with your swings. Andre won their first match 6-2, 6-1 but by the end of their tennis careers, Pete led their H2H 20 wins to 14 ( 20-14 ). Once again, we're left to ask the big question about Rafael Nadal The 22-time grand slam champion was bounced from the Australian Open in the second round. What Is The Optimal Weight For A Tennis Racket? Nadal . A match made in heaven, Steve Flink says. With 59 previous matches,Nadaland Djokovic have battled more times in their rivalry than any players in history, ATPTour.com said. Andre Agassi, his fierce rival, appeared in numerous Nike advertisements, earning millions of dollars. At HT Sports Desk, passionate reporters work round the clock to provide detailed updates from the world of sports. I care about the French, as much as I care about the other three. A take I don't often see but one I agree with. }. I believe Stefan is one of the few players who has a winning H-H vs Pete, though it is very close. Nadal has a 19-8 edge on clay and has won seven of the pair's nine meetings in Paris. A 17-year-old Nadal set the tone for the rivalry with a 6-3, 6-3 win over the then two-time Grand Slam champion and world No. .is-mobile .scores-daily-schedule-content td.day-table-seed, .scores-results-content td.day-table-seed { display:none; "I'm . Wawrinka beat three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals, but he has not taken a set off Nadal in 12 previous meetings. Each player is legendary in his own right. Rafael Nadal . When they played against each other, it was truly an unmissable opportunity. But, why do you think it's more prestigious now. And this happened too often from 1997 onwards. The physical oddities alone provided all the ingredients - Federers right hand to Nadals left, Federers elegant backhand to Nadals brawny forehand, Federers calm demeanour to Nadals ferocious roars. Who better to comment on a match-up between two of the best players to ever grace the tennis court than another one of the all-time greats. During his career, Nadal has dominated on clay, losing only to Novak Djokovic twice in the 2012 and 2016 French Open semifinals. Agassi-Sampras: 1989-2002 34 14-20 16 7-9 9 . A man whose hard-nosed work ethic led to an unprecedented No. In 2010, they played each other in the final of the Madrid Masters, with Nadal winning in three sets. Women Amateur Era. He said: "As a kid, I loved watching Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi's games. It made Nadal the first Spaniard to win the Australian Open and meant that he held three of the four Grand Slams - French Open, Wimbledon and Australian Open - at the same time, making him the first man in the Open Era to hold Grand Slam titles in three different surfaces simultaneously. In the past, Sampras has expressed confidence that, because Nadal typically plays so far back, he could push forward and take over the net. The event is set to return to the renovated and modernized Credit One Stadium on Daniel Island from April 1 to 9. Hes been doing a great job of catching up to a number of guys lately. However, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal then began to break most of his records. Camila Giorgi enchants Instagram with a cowgirl outfit! Nadal believes that he has more Grand Slam titles than he has won in his career (14). Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal renew their 16-year-old epic rivalry as the tennis giants clash at the French Open on Tuesday with a semi-final spot at stake. Other than when he fell off the map, Agassi was always a huge threat everywhere. The Serbian has also won the most finals: 15 to 13 for the Spaniard. Going further back in history, I cannot hide my admiration for Ilie Nastase." width: 32px; He has a lot of years ahead of him in terms of his future. Nadal, who had not played his best tennis in years prior to the Wimbledon final, played his best game of the year. Expect nuanced match reports, previews,reviews, technical analysis based on statistics, the latest social media trends, expert opinions on cricket, football, tennis, badminton, hockey,motorsports, wrestling, boxing, shooting, athletics and much more. The Swiss maestro began as the favourite but Rafael Nadal produced one of the most standout matches in his career to beat the fancied Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 in a rain-interrupted final. Nadal, on the other hand, has racked up an impressive 19 Grand Slam singles titles, including an unprecedented 13 French Open titles. Djokovicleads the overall head-to-head 30-29, but Nadal has an 11-7 lead in grand slam matches against his rival. "To see him play - he hits a very heavy ball, serves pretty well, he does everything," said the seven-time Wimbledon champion, who will present the trophy to the winner on Sunday, 20 years on from the first of his two Australian victories. Rafter seemed to be of the tradition of play hard in competition, but have a beer with the boys afterwards, which obviously conflicted with Sampras' outlook. How To Choose The Right Tennis Racquet Length, The Importance Of Keeping Your Tennis Shoes In Good Condition. I doubt Pete would trade a Wimbledon or his home slam USO for a FO. Pete Sampras Andre Agassi 20-13. Both tennis giants have met in the finals of all four Grand Slam tournaments. Not too many guys got multiple big wins in a row against Pete. He also had a strong backhand and was an excellent volleyer. /a > Agassi vs. Lendl these two and lost 21 court and outmanoeuvre . Most notably, all of the 'Big Three' currently hold 20 Grand Slam titles each. Pete, a five-time U.S. Open champion, grew up playing on the stuff in California. Weve got it all together with him. Pete Sampras 41 (1981.08.08) Age (1971.08.12) Switzerland Birthplace United States 6'1" (185 cm) Height 6'1" (185 cm) 187 lbs (85 kg) Weight 170 lbs (77 kg) . He indeed wouldn't likely lose twice in a row against a certain player, but outside of Wimbledon he could possibly lose to anyone ONCE, even at a Slam. a[href*="540/draws?matchType=qualifier"]{ Despite a poor 2016 season, critics were wrong in their predictions of retirement for the Spaniard. The much-awaited game will see both men playing in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros for the 16th time. All rights reserved. While Djokovic looked in top form during his Rome triumph, Nadal was troubled by a chronic foot problem and lost in the Madrid quarter-finals before a third-round exit in Rome. } The Spaniard has had the upper hand in Grand Slam matches, winning 10 matches to Federer's four and also leads the head-to-head in Grand Slam finals, winning six to Federer's three. This is probably the biggest victory of my life, considering those circumstances.. With only 26 years of age, Novak Djokovic has a lot of catching up to do. Obese people take more time to recover from accidents: Docs, In a 1st in 3 decades, board exams conclude without any malpractice, Pet Golden Retriever dog giving ashirwad to its humans is adorably hilarious. Again that's perception. The American earned his biggest career win over No. Federer has beaten Nadal 24 times, including in the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open. ", Nadal, 27, faces Stanislas Wawrinka in Sunday's final, and a win will see him equal, Sampras, 42, ended his career in 2002 with a record 14 major singles titles, only for Roger Federer to surpass him and amass, Sampras arrived in Melbourne on Friday in time to see. On clay, it would probably go 6-2 to Rafa; Pete would be lucky to hold a couple of times, Patrick McEnroe says. float: left; At 6'4" with a huge flat serve down the T, he gave Pete a very rough time. .tourney-details.action-buttons a[href*="watch-live"] { The consensus GOAT in women's tennis, Serena Williams, is a force to reckon with on the court. Federer is maybe a different matter but I'd still back Sampras head to head. Later in the year, he won the Wimbledon Championships, matching Nadal and Federers 20 Grand Slam titles. Gerulaitis: 6-2. have no clue who he was or watched him play. Here are eight reasons why he is a better player than Pete Sampras. Jennifer Coolidge: breaking the mould and the internet, US man dies from brain-eating amoeba after rinsing his nose, Novak Djokovic is now surely unrivalled in tennis history, This is probably the biggest victory of my life, Where: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, 2023 womens singles champion:Aryna Sabalenka, 2023 mens singles champion: Novak Djokovic, Where: Stade Roland-Garros, Paris, France, 2022 womens singles champion: Iga witek, 2022 mens singles champion: Rafael Nadal, Where: All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, London, England, 2022 womens singles champion:Elena Rybakina, 2022 mens singles champion: Novak Djokovic, Where: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York, US, 2022 womens singles champion:Iga witek, 2022 mens singles champion:Carlos Alcaraz, Olympic singles gold medals: 1 (Beijing 2008), Roger Federer: 8 (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017), Pete Sampras: 7(1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000), Novak Djokovic: 7 (2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022), Bjorn Borg: 5 (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980), Wins at grand slams: Nadal 11, Djokovic 7, 2018 semi-final: Djokovic won 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 10-8, 2011 final: Djokovic won 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3, 2007 semi-final: Nadal won 3-6, 6-1, 4-1 (Djokovic retired), 2011 final: Djokovic won 6-2, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1, 2012 final: Djokovic won 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5, Wins at Roland Garros: Nadal8, Djokovic 2, 2022 quarter-final: Nadal won6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4), 2021 semi-final: Djokovic won 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-2, 2015 quarter-final: Djokovic won 7-5, 6-3, 6-1, 2013 semi-final: Nadal won 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7(3), 9-7, 2008 semi-final: Nadal won 6-4, 6-2, 7-6(3), 2006 quarter-final: Nadal won 6-4, 6-4 (Djokovic retired). ATP Player : Please enter the names (or part of the name) of the both ATP Players, you want to compare Head to Head. Lilly Becker slammed her husband for his poor treatment of their 13-year-old son, Amadeus. } } Regardless of the outcome of this season finale, Rafa should still keep his place in the Top 10. That's why apart from his last tournament at the 2002 US Open he didn't win a hardcourt Slam (and obviously no RG either) after age 25. This week, Marko Hrastar of Sport Klub Slovenia caught up with Hercog. Maybe towards the end when he had the records and wasn't nearly as motivated but during his heyday in the 90's. Novak Djokovic celebrates his tenth Australian Open title, Rafael Nadal won his 14th French Open title in 2022. ATP Player : 2. Nadal has a 19-8 edge on clay and has won seven of the pair's nine meetings in Paris. .breakpoint-768 .sub-header-links{display:none;} I think is only in hindsight as well. background: none; On court, we have completely opposite styles, and that's what probably makes our matches and our rivalry probably one of the biggest and most interesting. Denis Shapovalov 36 (1986.06.03) Age 23 (1999.04.15) . * Ever since Surface and Ba. Head to head records for players in men's professional tennis. Sampras inspired me with his aggressive playing style, while from Agassi I drew the warrior spirit that has always distinguished me. I mean really? Who is the greatest tennis player of all time and why? Eight of Federers20 wins came on grass at Wimbledon. Andy Roddick vs Rafael Nadal all matches, with stats on their H2H rivalry. May be you are right, but he will certainly not going to trade anything for RG. After winning the 2023 Australian Open, Djokovic is now level with Nadal on 22 grand slam titles. Pete Sampras described Rafael Nadal as "incredible" after watching the world number one live for the first time at the Australian Open. In the 1997 ATP Masters clash in Miami, Bruguera finally sealed his positive head-to-head record against Sampras as he defeated him on Hard Courts for the first time. Haas did give him a fairly competitive match at the USO later that year but would still have to back PETE. After searching please choose and select the two Players in the following player lists. However, when they played each other on hard courts, Federer held a 147 lead, while Sampras had a 54 lead on grass courts and a 53 lead on clay courts. Head To Head Matches Stats not found Sampras vs McEnroe H2H MATCHES PLAYED All Rounds Final 1/2 1/4 First Second Third Fourth Qualifying q-First q-Second Pre-q Rubber 1 Rubber 2 Rubber 3 Rubber 4 . The answer is yes! Pete Sampras. 1. Djokovic beat the Spaniard in the semi-finals last year before he defeat Stefanos Tsitsipas to lift the trophy in Paris for the second time. Pete Sampras is well ahead of Nadal in the list of players who have won the most Masters 1000 titles, with 28 victories, but Nadal is far behind. In their careers, Sampras and Federer have played each other 34 times. It lasted for a marathon four hours and 48 minutes. .is-desktop .atp-logo{ Rafael Nadal (1970.04.29) Age 36 (1986.06.03) United States Birthplace Spain 5'11" (180 cm) Height 6'1" (185 cm) 177 lbs (80 kg) . Nadal, 27, faces Stanislas Wawrinka in Sunday's final, and a win will see him equal Sampras's 14 Grand Slam titles.external-link. There have been 17 matches between them at majors, with Djokovic winning 116, five of which were in finals, and 11 in the semifinals, setting a new record. "I saw him play live for the first time on Friday night and the movement he has is incredible. and her friend was sent to the hospital with head injuries 2023-03-01T09:52:47.840Z. So, who is the better player? Wimbledon. Sampras vs Agassi Head to Head Stats. The King of Clay. Watch, Will contest all 80 Lok Sabha seats with our alliances in 2024: Akhilesh, Indian table tennis talent waits for system to blossom, Wisconsin gurdwara attack: Sikh motorcyclists start ride against hate crimes, PSG's Achraf Hakimi given preliminary charges on rape allegation, Another temple vandalised by pro-Khalistan supporters in Australia, Pick a topic of your interest and subscribe. Yes, it is close, but you can't count the slight edge in Masters and Grand Slam titles as important factors but then discount Djokovic's slight edge in head-to-head. It's actually abit of a disgrace how Sampras is spoken about. Roger Federer. Nadal has won three of those meetings. So, who is the better player? But Nadal has won the most of their 17 Grand Slam meetings. 1 Federer. He was dominant in the early 1990s, winning six consecutive Wimbledon titles and becoming the world No. View rivalry results and stats for matches on the ATP Tour. 1 world ranking for 286 consecutive weeks, and whose prodigious talent made possible an as yet unbroken 14 Grand Slam record. Head to head records for players in men's professional tennis. Roger Federer also echoed similar thoughts. Probably would trade an AO though. For example, a racket with a large head will have a larger sweet spot, making it more forgiving on off-center hits. Wimbledon is just the greatest of the slams. Still, Nadal's gold slam makes a big difference here. Read more aboutour 50th Anniversary Celebrationandget caught up on all the matches so far. But on a hard court and grass, Pete would have too much firepower. to-head 3-1 with the Frenchman winning their previous Acpaulco first round match in 2020. That logical conclusion of Sampras' versatility doesn't follow. I think Becker had a slightly edge on Pete on carpet and maybe even at the AO, had they ever met there. That's true, but his problem was different. FO has always been the red headed stepchild of the Grand Slams. See the latest head to head statistics, with preview, predictions and schedules of the upcoming matches (ATP, WTA, Slams, Challengers) Ivan Lendl vs Pete Sampras h2h tennis stats } Da quel luned di 18 anni fa a domenica 19 marzo 2023, giorno della finale di Indian Wells, sono passate 912 settimane e Nadal le ha trascorse tutte nei top 10. Sampras, 42, ended his career in 2002 with a record 14 major singles titles, only for Roger Federer to surpass him and amass 17 in his career to date. Magnus Larsson beat Sampras 4 times, that must be in the top 10. Vanderbilt men's tennis played against South Carolina and Alabama yesterday. Novak Djokovic Tomas Berdych 25-3. How about the middle set, on hard courts? Even though Lopez has a negative head-to-head against Nadal, he has still had some success against the 22-time Grand Slam champion. In addition to winning all four majors, both Federer and Djokovic have lost to each other at each one. Competition ? Nadalhas 59 while Federer won 54. Nadal is the only Spanish player, male or female, to win all four majors twice, to rank world No. Sampras was better on more surfaces, but Rafa won on every surface. Won 5 of the 6 last matches, bur Edberg (and his back) was in decline by that point. In order to play you must be a registered user. . Agassi and Rafter are #1 and #2 comfortably. Nadal, who won 14 Majors in total, is still very much in his prime and is well on his way to overtaking Pete Sampras. I would go with something like: Surely Edberg must make any list, having been one of the few who beat him in a GS final, despite it being early in Sampras' career. display:none; His head-to-head record against Sampras became even after Sampras had won in Germany and finally at the French Open in 1996. Rafael Nadal 41 (1981.08.08) Age 36 (1986.06.03) Switzerland Birthplace Spain 6'1" (185 cm) Height 6'1" (185 cm) 187 lbs (85 kg) . Djokovic . Indeed, the idea of a Pete vs. Rafa throwdown generates a lot of curiosity and speculation, but not a lot of consensus as to how it would play out. Lopez and Nadal have played against each other 14 times. Copyright 1994 - 2020 ATP Tour, Inc. All Rights Reserved. ", Miami TD James Blake compares 'incredible story' Emma Raducanu to Maria Sharapova, Novak Djokovic on 2019 Wimbledon final: Statistically, Roger Federer was better, ATP Dubai: Novak Djokovic falls to Daniil Medvedev and suffers first loss. Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals, but he has not taken a set off Nadal in 12 previous meetings. What made Pete Sampras so great? Nadal, 27, faces Stanislas Wawrinka in Sunday's final, and a . 'Pistol' Pete Sam. The Fedal story unfolded over 15 years with several memorable chapters along the way, one of which is often regarded as the best tennis match of all time. Pete Sampras is unquestionably one of the best athletes of all time, and he went on to win the title after upsetting Nadal in the 2008 semifinals of the French Open. Talking about the champions of the last tennis era, Nadal made interesting statements. When he retired following the 2002 US Open, Sampras had won a record 14 Grand Slams, 64 tour-level titles and had a match record of 762 wins to 222 losses. A head of Friday's 39th meeting between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, we break down arguably the greatest rivalry in sport into five chapters.. . Boris Becker had served as the Centre Courts manager from 1995 to 1995, when Pete Sampras took over. "I think he's incredible," Sampras told BBC Sport. Nadal played in four Davis Cup-winning teams during his career: 2004-08, 2009-2011, and 2011-12. margin-right:15px; At HT Sports Desk, passionate reporters work round the clock to provide detailed updates from the world of sports. Nadal will play in his first major final on Sunday when he faces Stan Wawrinka in the Australian Open. } For tennis, it was undoubtedly the one between Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal. Nadal lost to Djokovic in the 2021 French open final, but Nadal beat him at the 2022 French Open quarter final, leaving their head to head at Nadal 29 /Djokovic 30. The Serbian beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5) on Rod Laver Arena and was overcome with emotion after sealing the straight-set win over the Greek third seed, said BBC Sport. The recent viewed H2H Statistics are: N. Djokovic - T. Griekspoor. Start your free trial, The GOAT debate, grand slam wins and big titles, Nadal vs. Djokovic: the rivalry and head-to-head record, Roger Federers retirement: an end to a magical era, Connectivity, Syrian diplomacy and French football, Elon Musk: mad genius now worlds richest. Also Read | Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic: Talking points ahead of the blockbuster clash at French Open 2022. Elliston Place Soda Shop will . But the mix of surfaces here might favor the American. I'm sceptical, about their being more glory compared to the rest. Billionaires: who is the worlds richest person? Their last match against each other was in the final of . a[href*="540/draws?matchType=qualifier"]{ Federer has won 20 of those meetings, while Sampras has won 14. He might be the greatest player of all time. Sampras also holds the edge in overall career prize money, having earned over $43 million compared to Nadals $120 million. That's in addition to the 167,000 pay cheque he earned . float: left; Chris Bowers is a freelance writer and broadcaster who has covered the global tennis scene for more than 20 years. The Spaniard was taken to five sets for only the third time in his tournament history by young Felix Auger-Aliassime in the fourth round. Rafas weakness is his return, and Sampras would use his forehand to disrupt Nadal at the baseline.. Truthfully He didn't really have any other than the clay surface. Head to head records for players in men's professional tennis. I guess in the end that's probably why they got there buts it's still something unique in sport. But beyond that, it looks pretty bad for Nadal: -Djokovic has a stronger head-to-head. It was Nadals first Wimbledon title and fifth Grand Slam overall. He has an outstanding backhand that is as close to perfect as any tennis backhand I have ever seen. A 17-year-old Nadal set the tone for the rivalry with a 6-3, 6-3 win over the then two-time Grand Slam champion and world No. He has trumped the opponent 10 times and lost on seven occasions. The Commodores head to Knoxville on Thursday to take on the Volunteers. TMF, do you think Nadal is greater than Sampras then? Are you suggesting 2015 and 2016 slams as clear ? Is Pete Sampras the greatest tennis player of all time? Players with the most consecutive weeks inside the ATP top 10. However, he equalled the record by winning the French Open and broke it by winning Wimbledon later in the year.