SAP Open Monfils/ Sampras???

[Coolhand Texas]

Why does it say on the ATP live scores that monfils is playing sampras??

WTF this cant be right, right? if it is he is actually giving monfils a match!

Nevermind its a freaking exo

[KluddKalle]

Haven't read anything about this prior to the match, probably because it's "across the sea".

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis ... nfils.aspx

[VillaJ100]

Yeah was only a exho. monfils won 7-6 6-4. even though he is nearly 40 i think he'd probably be in the top 50 if he came back. Last night however it seemed his serve wasn't all that great, whih is a worry! You can't gauge his skill level from these exhos however, he played sam querrey in a pro-set last year and seemed to try his hardest, tracking down balls, going for his shots etc, and ended up winning 8-4, which i though was interesting.

[Mike Rotchtickles]

Yeah was only a exho. monfils won 7-6 6-4. even though he is nearly 40 i think he'd probably be in the top 50 if he came back.

Yeah?
We're talking about a 40 yr old here. He hasn't played competitive tour level tennis since 2002. Even back then was struggling physically. He's one of the ATG's so you'd still back him to probably catch magic every once in a while, but playing at the competitive tour level at age 40, I mean you'd have to think that his movement and stamina would get found out, more often than not.
I can see him shining every now and again, but to keep that up in back-to-back matches on a regular basis, I just can't see that.

[djarvik]

Yeah was only a exho. monfils won 7-6 6-4. even though he is nearly 40 i think he'd probably be in the top 50 if he came back.

Yeah?
We're talking about a 40 yr old here. He hasn't played competitive tour level tennis since 2002. Even back then was struggling physically. He's one of the ATG's so you'd still back him to probably catch magic every once in a while, but playing at the competitive tour level at age 40, I mean you'd have to think that his movement and stamina would get found out, more often than not.
I can see him shining every now and again, but to keep that up in back-to-back matches on a regular basis, I just can't see that.

Gulbis is 22 and he is doing THAT now, he is hovering top 20

[Mike Rotchtickles]

[VillaJ100]

I think if he played selective events, such as both american hardcourt swings, and the grass "season" (pathetic), then he could for sure win a few rounds in a few of them, maybe i was unrealistic there.

But more realistically, i think if sampras fully concentrated on one tournament, say wimbledon or the USO, for like, 3-4 months of solid practice on that surface, and got the serve back to somewhere it once was, and had a decent draw, i think he could reach the QF for sure. Any further would be unrealistic i think. 2001-2002 i dont think he played all that bad, he just had a big drop in confidence and lost to a lot of nobodys in close matches, while still getting some good results (finals in masters series, beating agassi on clay ) it would have been interesting to see sampras in 2003 after that open win with the confidence back, but it wasnt to be

In a way its a little sad to watch the exho's, yeah its great to see him play, but every match he's a bit slower, bit lazier, and lost a bit more power and hair, which is sad remembering how he used to be.

[jayl0ve]

Sampras would get absolutely murdered on the tour now. The exo was close probably because Monfilis kept it close.

[Coolhand Texas]

I think what Sampras should do, is come out of retirement and show fed and nadal who really is the best

[VillaJ100]

he should ask the ITHOF to borrow a wooden stick and show nadal how to play clay-court tennis.

[Q. Reese]

I think what Sampras should do, is come out of retirement and show fed and nadal who really is the best

Yea. I think he can make some noise and a lot of players fear him. I really think he can. At the exhibitions, Sampras won some; and, if he lost, it was close!

I wish he would come back for the ATP tennis community!