Roger Federer Approaches Pete Sampras In Greatness
By Anton Lagani, Lawn Tennis Correspondent, Posted: Saturday, November 29, 2008 6:46pm PST USA
Roger Federer of Switzerland in 2008 slipped from the top ranking he held for a
record 237 consecutive weeks to his current
ranking of number two, but after winning the US Open in September, Federer remains on track to finish his career as the greatest male player
ever.
From 1990 to 2002, Pete Sampras of the USA won a record 14 singles grand slam titles, while Federer in his career has won a total of
13.
In a similarity among
both players, neither player's attacking game has
been successful enough to master the slow Paris clay in order to win an elusive French Open title.
Federer of Switzerland
Roger Federer
Sampras of the USA
Pete Sampras
Birthdate
August 8, 1981
August 12, 1971
Age
27
31 (Age upon retirement)
Height
6' 1'' (185 m)
6' 1" (1.85 m)
Weight
177 lbs (80 kg)
170 lbs (77 kg)
Place Of Birth
Binningen, Basel-Land, Switzerland
Washington, DC, USA
Residence
Oberwil, Switzerland
Las Angeles, California, USA
Plays
Right-handed
Right-handed
Turned Pro
1998
1988
ATP Tour Rank
1
Retired in 2002.
Career Record
617-149
762-222
Weeks Spent At Number 1
237
286
Singles Tournaments Won
57
64
Career Earnings
$44,593,957
$43,280,489
Grand Slams Won
13 (Australian Open-3, Wimbledon-5, US Open-5)
14 (Australian Open-2, Wimbledon-7, US Open-5)
Weapon
Forehand, all court game, consistency
Forehand, volley, all court game
Only Player Ever To
Win the Wimbledon and US Open singles titles back to back for five consecutive years.
Lead male players with 14 career grand slam singles titles.
Power Statistic
Ended Sampras' 31 match winning streak at Wimbledon in 2001 in the 4th round.
Never lost a Wimbledon final, winning 7 times.
Has Never Won
French Open (best result: Finalist 2007)
French Open (best result: Semifinalist 1996)
Facts
Match records for 2005 and 2006 were 81-4 and 92-5.
Is the only player to have been ranked World No. 1 by the ATP for six consecutive years (1993–98).
