[vogus]

Clement, Medvedev, Ivanisevic, Schuettler, Martin, Stich. Of course he beat Sampras once in the AO, but Sampras never gave a shit about the Australian Open anyways.

And today, Agassi choked again in a GS final just like he choked those 4 times against Sampras. He was in a great position to win the match, he really was doing everything right, playing perfect tactics against Feds, about to go up two sets to one, at 4-2, 30-0 on his own serve in the 3rd set. But he let it slip, and the opportunity dried up so fast it was like it had never even been there.

 

[megadeth]

it wasn't agassi's fault that most of his opponents in the slams he won were not of sampras-caliber.

but hey, if you went back to the 2003 AO (vs rainer), he was so prepared that i think even if he went up with sampras that time, he'll win...

 

[JustmeUK]

Clement, Medvedev, Ivanisevic, Schuettler, Martin, Stich. Of course he beat Sampras once in the AO, but Sampras never gave a shit about the Australian Open anyways.

and who was really top tier between 1995 and 2005? Becker and Edberg had retired.. no one else from that era aside from Pete and Andre have distinguished themselves with 5 or more GS titles.

 

[PaulieM]

oh come on is a thread like this really necessary

 

[revolution]

Sampras never gave a shit about the Australian Open anyways.

Why did he win it twice then if he didn't give a shit?

 

[Flibbertigibbet]

OK, stop adding insult to injury and give the man some credit.

 

[Hingie]

Why did he win it twice then if he didn't give a shit?

Cuz he was too good on any surface aside from clay. He could win it even if he didn't give a shiz. Imagine if he cared about it like he cared about Wimbledon and the U.S Open. He wouldn't be holding 14 slams, he'd be holding like 17-18.

 

[revolution]

Cuz he was too good on any surface aside from clay. He could win it even if he didn't give a shiz. Imagine if he cared about it like he cared about Wimbledon and the U.S Open. He wouldn't be holding 14 slams, he'd be holding like 17-18.

The sticky courts were more suited to baseliners than Pete's serve and volley style of play, hence less AO titles. Of course he cared about the tournament.

 

[PamV]

In '92 when he won Wimbledon, his first major he had to beat Boris Becker (5) QF, John McEnroe (30)SF, and Goran Ivanisevic (8) F to win that title.

In '94 he played Stich, Michael (4) in the USOpen final and won.

All of those guys were top tier players except for McEnroe at the time. Stich was ranked #4 so how could you say he wasn't top tier? Also Andre beat Pete twice in AO finals. He also beat Pete at Indian Wells, and Miami.

 

[Tennis Fool]

Clement, Medvedev, Ivanisevic, Schuettler, Martin, Stich. Of course he beat Sampras once in the AO, but Sampras never gave a shit about the Australian Open anyways.

And today, Agassi choked again in a GS final just like he choked those 4 times against Sampras. He was in a great position to win the match, he really was doing everything right, playing perfect tactics against Feds, about to go up two sets to one, at 4-2, 30-0 on his own serve in the 3rd set. But he let it slip, and the opportunity dried up so fast it was like it had never even been there.

Foul mouthed, saying Agass choked.

Hmmm. Are you AgassiFan's brother

 

[uNIVERSE mAN]

the people that sit there looking at scoreboards are full of shit, you have no idea what it takes to win a point, have some fucking respect, an actual real life sport is played with a billion variables, it's not an online scoreboard with numbers flashing.

 

[rofe]

Clement, Medvedev, Ivanisevic, Schuettler, Martin, Stich. Of course he beat Sampras once in the AO, but Sampras never gave a shit about the Australian Open anyways.

And today, Agassi choked again in a GS final just like he choked those 4 times against Sampras. He was in a great position to win the match, he really was doing everything right, playing perfect tactics against Feds, about to go up two sets to one, at 4-2, 30-0 on his own serve in the 3rd set. But he let it slip, and the opportunity dried up so fast it was like it had never even been there.

Agassi did not choke this match. Get that into your head first before creating an idiotic thread like this.

 

[Jimnik]

Clement, Medvedev, Ivanisevic, Schuettler, Martin, Stich. Of course he beat Sampras once in the AO, but Sampras never gave a shit about the Australian Open anyways.

And today, Agassi choked again in a GS final just like he choked those 4 times against Sampras. He was in a great position to win the match, he really was doing everything right, playing perfect tactics against Feds, about to go up two sets to one, at 4-2, 30-0 on his own serve in the 3rd set. But he let it slip, and the opportunity dried up so fast it was like it had never even been there.

What about Kafelnikov, who he beat in the 2000 AO final? 2 grand slam titles - is he a "2nd/3rd tier" player? If you're going to call Ivanisevic, Martin and Stich "2nd/3rd tier" players then lets have a look at Sampras's final opponents. Pioline twice, Ivanisevic twice, Martin, Chang, Moya, Courier, Rafter. I guess Sampras mostly beat "2nd/3rd tier" players too.

"Sampras never gave a shit about the Australian Open anyways"
Hmm.. well, it is ONLY a Grand Slam, which he won twice btw. Maybe you're right. In fact, I think he lost to Andre on purpose because he didn't want to have to carry a heavy trophy with him on his way back from Australia.

 

[vogus]

The sticky courts were more suited to baseliners than Pete's serve and volley style of play, hence less AO titles. Of course he cared about the tournament.

he didnt care about it nearly as much as he cared about Wimby and the USO. The Aussy Open is the bastard stepchild of the 4 grand slams and Sampras was well aware that people would remember his performances at the other three Slams much more. It's no coincidence that 4 of Agassi's GS titles came at the least important Slam, the AO.

 

[revolution]

he didnt care about it nearly as much as he cared about Wimby and the USO. The Aussy Open is the bastard stepchild of the 4 grand slams and Sampras was well aware that people would remember his performances at the other three Slams much more. It's no coincidence that 4 of Agassi's GS titles came at the least important Slam, the AO.

There is no least important Slam, they all have equal importance.

 

[vogus]

There is no least important Slam, they all have equal importance.

Keep dreaming. The big three Slams have roughly equal importance, but Australia is a distant fourth in terms of prestige and exposure.

 

[Jimnik]

There is no least important Slam, they all have equal importance.

I agree but the problem is that Wimbledon is more famous and more prestigous than the other slams.
If somebody won 7 RG, 5 AO, 2 USO and no Wimby titles would he be considered as big a legend as Sampras? I would rate him equally but most people would probably rate Sampras higher.

 

[Tennis Fool]

Keep dreaming. The big three Slams have roughly equal importance, but Australia is a distant fourth in terms of prestige and exposure.

Well, at least in America it is. As I don't have cable and don't get to see it Thus get to miss Safin because he seems to only play well there.

 

[federer express]

Clement, Medvedev, Ivanisevic, Schuettler, Martin, Stich. Of course he beat Sampras once in the AO, but Sampras never gave a shit about the Australian Open anyways.

And today, Agassi choked again in a GS final just like he choked those 4 times against Sampras. He was in a great position to win the match, he really was doing everything right, playing perfect tactics against Feds, about to go up two sets to one, at 4-2, 30-0 on his own serve in the 3rd set. But he let it slip, and the opportunity dried up so fast it was like it had never even been there.

crap thread....what's your point? how can you even try to diminish his achievements in the game. he is simply one of the top 5 or 6 players of all time!

 

[Jimnik]

Personally, I think the AO brings out the best champions out of all the slams because it has the perfect surface. Wimbledon and the US Open are very similar fast courts and Roland Garros is very slow. But the Rebound Ace is half-way between clay and grass, I think.