"That's something I had but he has it at a whole new level"- When Pete Sampras explained why he would've liked to have Rafael Nadal's mentality
Legendary tennis player Pete Sampras once stated that he would choose Rafael Nadal's mentality over any of his shots.
Sampras called quits on his glittering tennis career in 2002, but still competed in a few exhibition events. One of those events saw him play a match on the opening night of the 2011 SAP Open in San Jose, California.
Pete Sampras faced Gael Monfils that day, and the Frenchman beat him 7-6(4), 6-4. In his post-match press conference, the American was asked what stroke from another player he would have liked to add to his own repertoire.
Sampras replied that he would take Rafael Nadal's mentality instead of his forehand and backhand. He also stated that the Spaniard had taken the attitude of being a marathon runner to another level.
"You know, it's hard to say. If I take a Nadal, you know, forehand, whatever on clay. Then you sort of lose your serve. I don't think there's really -- you know, any stroke, to be as strong and as mentally and physically as Nadal has, I think that's what I would take, you know what I mean. It wouldn't be a serve or a forehand," Pete Sampras said.
"It would just be more like a mentality that he has that he was given from his parents as something that's hard to find, hard to teach. He just has that attitude of being a marathon runner, just keeps going. That's something that I had but he has it at a whole new level," he added.
Pete Sampras on the difference between Rafael Nadal and Andre Agassi
Sampras was also asked if he found anything similar in Rafael Nadal and Andre Agassi's games. The American replied that they were quite different, pointing out that while Agassi stood closer to the baseline, Nadal relied more on topspin.
"Different. Different. Andre was a little, played a little closer to the baseline, and with my game it sort of felt -- if Andre was moving well and returning well it was sort of a long day for me. It's similar, but they're different ways to win the point. Rafa is more of a spin and get it high to your backhand, where Andre was a little more offensive early on and sort of stood closer into the baseline," Pete Sampras said.
"So they're counter-punches that Andre was just a little bit, just caught a little bit earlier where Rafa gives you a little bit more time but obviously moves a ton better than Andre and probably and competes just -- he probably competes a little harder than Andre as well," he added.