Pete Sampras, tennis legend and winner of 14 majors, considered Rafa Nadal “mentally, the best player” he had ever seen.although he admits it is “very difficult” to determine which is number one of all time, as between the Spaniard and Novak Djokovic it’s like choosing between “a Ferrari or a Lamborghini”.
“Everything (Nadal) is exceptional. Roger (Federer) and I had a period of dominance on grass, but to win the same big 14 times is incredible. And in mind, what a player! Probably the best I’ve seen“, examines Sampras, in an interview published this Saturday in L’Équipe magazine.
However, for the American, now 51 years old and a golfer, answering who is the best tennis player of all time “is impossible”.
“Novak has done incredible things in the last ten years, he has good numbers against most players, is the one with the record of being number 1 permanently. He won everywhere. He has all the records except the Grand Slam,” he said.
Sampras admitted his disbelief that his record of 14 majors was broken by three players. (Federer, Nadal and Djokovic) for 17 years. “In my time, we retired close to 30. Mentally, I couldn’t take it anymore at 31 (…) To have been so consistent for so many years. They are monsters in this sport.”
Of the three, the tennis player thought he was the closest to Federerbecause he has a personality that is close to you.
“I’ve had dinner with Novak and we talk from time to time. And With Rafa, although we don’t spend much time together, I have a lot of respect for everything he has achieved“, he highlighted.
Sampras also spoke about how tennis has changed since the 90s, when it had a golden age fueled by a historic rivalry with André Agassi, and welcomed the fact that there are now more conversations about mental health, although he warned of the evil of social networks They came through mobile phones.
“If I were active today, I would send the mobile overboard. It’s a device that causes anxiety. It works if you get lost, otherwise it leaves you vulnerable and easily accessible (…) Now the children have one in ten years old. That can influence mental health“, he finished.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
