Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: Violence widens ahead of Greek austerity vote

Sampras says Federer will win more Slams

U.S. tennis legend says all-time major win leader isn’t finished

Image: FedererAFP/Getty Images
Pete Sampras says Roger Federer “is going to win some more majors. Maybe he’s not going to be quite as dominant as he once was."

HONG KONG - Pete Sampras predicts Roger Federer still has a few more Grand Slam titles to win despite his recent loss in the U.S. Open final.

“Roger is going to win some more majors. Maybe he’s not going to be quite as dominant as he once was,” Sampras told a media conference in Hong Kong Tuesday via telephone from Los Angeles. The seven-time Wimbledon champion was promoting his upcoming exhibition match against Andre Agassi in the nearby southern Chinese gambling enclave of Macau on Oct. 25.

Top-ranked Federer lost in five sets to Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro in the Sept. 14 U.S. Open final.

“When push comes to shove, I still like Roger at these majors,” Sampras said, adding that Federer may find it hard to motivate himself given his already stellar record.

Federer won his first French Open earlier this year to complete a career Grand Slam, then won Wimbledon to break Sampras’ record of 14 major titles.

Asked if it hurt to see his record broken, Sampras, who watched Federer’s five-set Wimbledon victory over American Andy Roddick from courtside, said it was expected.

“I think we all knew it was going to happen. It was inevitable that he was going to break the record,” the American said. “I was actually happy to be there and witness it.”

Sampras said he also expects Rafael Nadal to linger at the top of the rankings despite his recent struggles with injury.

“He’s going to be around in the top two or three in the world for as long as he wants to be,” he said. “He’s an animal, a great athlete, a great player. He’s going to go through different lulls in his game, but when push comes to shove, you’re always going to see Rafa in the last couple of days of the event.”

© 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

advertisement
Slideshow
  Scenes from Down Under
Check out the best images from the 2012 Australian Open.

NBCSports.com

Slideshows
2011 US Open - Day 8
Getty Images
  Celebrity tennis fans
Take a look at some well-known fans in the world of tennis.
Andre Agassi
Getty Images
  Grand Slam champs
Roger Federer and Andre Agassi are among the legendary players with singles titles at all four Slams.
French Open - Day Eleven
Getty Images
  Federer vs. Nadal
Relive the head-to-head battles between two of the top players in men's tennis.
17th Annual ESPY Awards - Backstage And Audience
Getty Images for ESPY
  Stylin' sisters
Check out the fashion choices Venus and Serena Williams have made on and off the court.
Slideshow
Image: Snee, 8, son of New York Giants player Chris Snee and head coach Coughlin's grandson plays in the confetti after the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game in Indianapolis
  The Week in Sports Pictures
The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more.

more photos