Pete Sampras On GOAT Debate: Federer’s The Greatest, But Nadal’s Now In The Conversation
Just a few days after Andre Agassi gave his thoughts on the “bar-room” GOAT debate, Pete Sampras has now offered his take on who’s the best ever in tennis.
Speaking to the thetennispace.com, the 14-time Grand Slam champion said Roger Federer is still the man of the moment but cautioned that Rafael Nadal has put up quite a run and he isn’t done yet.
Said Sampras: “It’s always been so clear to me that Roger is the greatest. But I would say that, with Rafa doing what he’s been doing, he has an argument to be in the conversation. Rafa isn’t done yet. He could win more majors. He’s got a winning record against everyone that he has played in his generation. He’s won the Davis Cup, he’s won the Olympics. It’s such bar-room talk. You look at Rafa and what he has been able to do, you look at Roger and the fact that he did what he did for so long, winning all those majors. I hate talking about it. I feel as though every generation has the guy. Which generation was the best? You could talk about it all day. I just think that Roger was so consistent and so good for so long. But with Rafa, he’s sure to pass me on the list of most grand slam titles, and the question is whether he can take it further and go for that record.”
Sampras was considered the GOAT a decade ago, then along came Federer and now Nadal. While he trails Federer’s 17 Slams, he’s ahead of Nadal by one.
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