"He just set a whole other standard of greatness": Pete Sampras redefined tennis says Milos Raonic
ATPMonday, 25 December 2023 at 05:30
Milos
Raonic chose Pete Sampras as his favorite tennis player when he was a child,
attributing it to the significant influence Sampras had on the sport. The
former world No. 1 held the top-ranking position for an impressive 286 weeks
and currently ranks third, surpassed only by Roger Federer (310) and Novak
Djokovic (409).
The
American tennis icon clinched a total of 14 Grand Slam titles and held the
record from 2002 until 2009 when Federer surpassed him with his sixth Wimbledon
title, defeating Andy Roddick 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14 in an epic match to
secure his 15th Slam: 7 Wimbledon, 5 US Open and 2 Australian Open.
"People forget how quich he was"
Former
world No. 3 Milos Raonic expressed his admiration for Sampras on The Craig
Shapiro Tennis podcast, highlighting Sampras's high standards and remarkable
speed: "[On favorite player growing up] Pete Sampras. It was only about
the tennis. He just set a whole other standard of greatness, and that's all he
cared about. People forget how quick he was. Like he moved just as well as
these other guys do nowadays, right?" Raonic said about Sampras.
Similar to
Raonic, Sampras was renowned for his powerful serve. However, the Canadian
tennis player emphasized that Sampras is often underrated, with some people
mistakenly thinking his game was solely centered around his serve: "People
want to categorize him, and it's easy to categorize him as a
serve-and-volleyer, and most people assume you're a serve-and-volleyer, serve
and volleying because you don't move well on the baseline. That's not the
case," he continued.
Raonic also
praised Sampras's formidable forehand, describing it as "the best of all
time": "This guy had the greatest running forehand of all time. And
you knew where it was going. Every time you cross-court, and you still wouldn't
get back," added former world No. 3.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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