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If Sampras would have played Nadal in his prime, what ONE shot Sampras would own - over Federer - that will make him more likely to trouble Nadal?
First correct answer = Wall Of Fame listing.
Correct answer / winner declaration: Thursday May 12, 2011.
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Backhand down the line?
Posted by: banti | 05/08/2011 at 05:01 PM
The running forehand.
Posted by: Bjornino | 05/08/2011 at 05:04 PM
Volley
Posted by: chipnputt | 05/08/2011 at 05:07 PM
Running forehands and backhands down-the-line were masterfully employed by Federer in his better years, but if Federer isn't going to be able to use those weapons effectively against Nadal, it's difficult for me to see Sampras doing so. However, I think Sampras had a stronger backhand grip, and so may have been a bit less damaged by Rafa on that side.
The serve seems too easy an answer, so I'm gonna go with the slam dunk smash.
Posted by: SE | 05/08/2011 at 05:16 PM
TP is going to make up a new shot to come up with this answer.
Posted by: banti | 05/08/2011 at 05:34 PM
I know that's not the winning answer. :^P
I think if Pete were to use the serve-and-volley routine a lot, it's possible he'd get passed a lot. Rafa is great at hitting passing shots against players approaching the net.
Some reasonably good answers from everyone.
Posted by: SE | 05/08/2011 at 05:36 PM
I think you're right, banti. That's been the trend lately. :)
Posted by: SE | 05/08/2011 at 05:40 PM
The running backhand. :D
Posted by: Mordecai | 05/08/2011 at 06:00 PM
Have to go with running forehand, which I think was one of two shots that Sampras simply owned above everyone else (the other being the second serve). I think prime Fed had a *much* better running backhand than prime Pete. Volleys, I'd say even or Fed has the edge: Pete was very clinical and efficient, sure, but that was behind a much bigger serve, while I think Fed overall has greater range of shots on the volley (e.g., unbelievable stop volleys).
Posted by: Nelson Goodman | 05/08/2011 at 06:19 PM
I am not sure the question asks "what shot did Pete have that was better than Roger"? To my thinking, it asks which shot did Pete have, that Roger is not using, that would bother Nadal? The running forehand is something Roger has too (Pete's may have been better), he uses it plenty, and it hardly bothers Nadal. I'm not sure that Pete's running forehand would bother Nadal either. So not sure if that is the answer.
The way Nadal beats Federer is by relentlessly pounding his forehand with topspin. Did Pete have something that could neutralize that? Ans: Approach and volley. In short, do not engage Nadal in a rally, unlike Roger who seems to want to do so. But TP wants only one shot, so take your pick -- approach or volley.
Posted by: chipnputt | 05/08/2011 at 06:44 PM
Second Service?
Posted by: Rock | 05/08/2011 at 07:01 PM
Rock = TP fooling with us.
Posted by: banti | 05/08/2011 at 07:04 PM
chip and charge.
Posted by: alex | 05/08/2011 at 07:21 PM
Chip, I guess I read "what ONE shot Sampras would own - over Federer - that will make him more likely to trouble Nadal?" to mean that it is a shot that Sampras is better at than Fed.
And I think that the running forehand is the one, key shot that the current Fed doesn't have or use. I've been saying this for a while in various posts here: I think the key weakness in Fed's game right now (which, to be clear, I think Fed can work to get back), which both Rafa and Nole have been exposing and exploiting, is his lateral movement to cover his forehand side - on those occasions when he gets there in time to hit a clean shot, Fed typically just rolls it back cross-court. He does not hit a "running forehand" of the sort that Sampras always used to and prime Fed as well: a bullet, screaming at an angle back cross-court or shooting down the line, either way for a clean winner. Fed simply hits a rally shot nowadays, not even an aggressive position shot much less go for a winner. An exception that sticks out b/c it's so rare was the magical shot Fed hit to get to break point at 3-4 in the first set against Rafa yesterday.
Posted by: Nelson Goodman | 05/08/2011 at 07:21 PM
Sampras had the ability to bust a serve right through an opponents' racquet stringbed... more than Federer, I guess
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VajDAbK_as&feature=related
Posted by: TheHumbleOne | 05/08/2011 at 07:47 PM
I'm with Rock. Sampras' second serve was almost as powerful as his first serve.
More often than not, Roger gets in trouble against Rafa when his first serve percentage drops too much (to well below 50% sometimes). Without getting those first serves in he can't play as aggressively as he would like, and Rafa takes the initiative away from him.
Sampras on the other hand would play exactly the same way with first and second serves. Just put it in and go for the volley. Of course, he would get passed often by Rafa, but Pete knew that this was a percentage play, and that in the long run, he would win the majority of the points.
Would that be enough to beat Rafa? Probably not on clay, but I can see it working on every other surface. Pete would need to raise his game enough to break Rafa once per set, or wait for the tiebreak, where he would have a clear edge.
Easier said than done, but not impossible.
Posted by: Serran | 05/09/2011 at 01:04 AM
Running forehand.
Posted by: Raj | 05/09/2011 at 05:50 AM
The kick serve. I think it never lost its sting until the very end of Sampras' career.
Posted by: P | 05/09/2011 at 08:01 AM
Rock, I thought the same.The second serve.
Posted by: Dee | 05/10/2011 at 05:02 AM
a high % and everlasting first serve
Posted by: ricky | 05/10/2011 at 06:14 AM
First Service Ace under pressure, on critical points
Posted by: Lobbo | 05/10/2011 at 06:41 PM
Nice...
Posted by: TheHumbleOne | 05/10/2011 at 11:29 PM
Sounds good to me Lobbo !! Like this one.
Posted by: alex | 05/11/2011 at 02:10 PM
Half volley
Posted by: Veglia | 05/12/2011 at 11:40 AM
WINNER: BJORNINO.
Posted by: Tennis Planet | 05/12/2011 at 01:04 PM
Congrats Bjornino!! Well done. I thought it was the volley myself and didn't even bother guessing after chips speedy guess.
Posted by: Bettyjane | 05/12/2011 at 01:06 PM
The only way I can see Sampras successfully executing running forehands against Rafa (if Federer can't do it) would be by trying to hit it every single point/game. He'd have to be thinking of it all the time. Federer never thinks of the same shot twice in one game. Maybe he should have in the past.
Posted by: SE | 05/12/2011 at 01:16 PM
Rafa would rarely ever pull Pete out that far on his forehand side because he'd be pummeling Pete's backhand more often.
Congrats, Bjornino!
Posted by: SE | 05/12/2011 at 01:31 PM
Also, if I may add something, I've noticed that whenever Fed executes a running forehand, he often stops to see if his shot is going in and by doing so he wastes precious seconds to get back into position. Anyone else notice that or am I seeing things? Maybe he used to do this before too but I didn't notice.
Anyway, congrats Bjornino. First time on WOF? :)
Posted by: Sol | 05/12/2011 at 01:37 PM
LOl Bjornino on the WOF? WT*?? Just kidding! Congrats. There was a discussion on tennis planet that someone else started about the running forehand sometime ago, can't remember who or when...
Posted by: banti | 05/12/2011 at 02:08 PM
Congrats, Bjornino ^!
Posted by: Jenny | 05/12/2011 at 02:20 PM
Thank you TP and thank you all for the congrats! I always felt that running FH could have hurt Nadal. Too bad Sampras wasn't born later, or Nadal/Federer earlier :-)
Posted by: Bjornino | 05/12/2011 at 03:01 PM
Congrats Bjornino, although I admit I don't get it. The running forehand is a defensive shot, or at best a shot that allows you to transition from defense to attack. At the very least, to hit it, you need to be pulled wide to your forehand. I don't think Nadal has been beating Federer by pulling him wide to the forehand and Federer being unable to respond. But never mind that. You got it right -- Congrats.
Posted by: chipnputt | 05/12/2011 at 03:40 PM
Congrats Bjornino. I beg to differ. I think the first serve would have killed Rafa but not on clay
Posted by: vr | 05/12/2011 at 05:45 PM
I so agree with you and Chip on this SE. If anything Mordecai answer made the most sense here. Rock's second serve answer thought would take this down. Overall (not to belittle Bjornino's impressive win:)) this was one of the few times TP has disappointed me in his WOF answers.
Posted by: banti | 05/12/2011 at 05:56 PM
congrats Bjornino
Posted by: Manal Ismail | 05/12/2011 at 07:38 PM
Congrats- excellent answer!
Posted by: Clifford | 05/12/2011 at 07:57 PM
félicitations!
Posted by: ricky | 05/13/2011 at 04:06 AM