IS Sampras still a threat?

[Clay]

This is what George Soules had to say this week in his column:

To put it more bluntly, Sampras is no longer a top threat on any other surface on the face of the earth, be it clay, hard, or ouija board

I think it's a bit of a stretch. Sampras made it to the finals of Queens on grass two weeks ago, and his early hard-court season wasn't that disastrous. I still think there are only four or so players that can beat him on grass. We need to see how he finishes the season before ruling him out as a top threat on grass or hard courts. Afterall, some how he is still the number 6 player in the world.

[iFroggy]

Yes, he is still a threat. After all Pete has done, he's having a tough time, no reason to start doubting him yet!

[Marc]

Is Pete still a threat? This is Pete Sampras, of course he is a threat. Is he the player he was five years ago? Not at all, but you cannot count him out, especially on grass, where he plays best at this part of his career.

[tennis4you]

Pete didn't make it to the finals at Queens, he made it to the semis. And he also made it to the finals of the US open last year. So I do still consider him a threat. As much as he used to be, no, but still a threat!!!

[Marc]

Here's what George Soules had to say in an e-mail to me this morning:
Marc,
Basically, my response is: look at the record, the guy has NOT WON A SINGLE TOURNAMENT since last's year's WIMBLEDON!
Best,
George
I'm trying to get him registered and over here so he can reply on his own, but he's on his way out of town right now.

[iFroggy]

Well, basically my response to that is that anyone who won Wimbleton in the previous year, is still a threat this year. :)

[Clay]

Good point iFroggy.

[Clay]

Maybe George had it right all along....
It was a rough tournament for Pete.

[Marc]

Originally posted by Clay
Maybe George had it right all along....
It was a rough tournament for Pete.
Here's what George had to say:
I never responded to the letters received from the folks outraged about my Sampras article. But if you followed the events of today at Wimbledon, you will note that Sampras lost to Federer, and it was in no small part a result of a diminishment of his basic skills - in particular his low volleys and returns of serve.
It's a vindication of sorts with reference to my last column, but the truth is that I really wanted Pete to win, and he was truly crestfallen at the end, a tough thing to witness as a fellow tennis player.
Best, George

[Clay]

I completely agree. His passing shots were too sloppy and the volleys weren't as crisp as they have been the last 8 years. I hear his lackluster year is due to a lack of concentration on the game...that maybe Sampras is losing interest in tennis. It's too bad, but had to happen some time.

[Clay]

Sampras dropped to number 12 in this weeks rankings, and he has some points to defend, too. If he doesn't reach the US Open Finals this year, he'll be in trouble. Possibly out of the top 30.

[Marc]

Originally posted by Clay
Sampras dropped to number 12 in this weeks rankings, and he has some points to defend, too. If he doesn't reach the US Open Finals this year, he'll be in trouble. Possibly out of the top 30.
I hope that doesn't happen. He is my favorite male player and I would love to see another classic Agassi vs. Sampras U.S. Open match.