Pete Sampras Warned Us About Modern Tennis, But Nobody Listened

Comments · 152

• JD

  @JD90065 · 3 weeks ago

  Because I don't see Pete speaking, I cannot trust that this is really him.

  96

• MI

  @michelez715 · 3 weeks ago

  Pete's serve and volley was so great, people overlooked how solid his groundstrokes were.  He started as a baseliner, like most kids did who started playing at his age, 7 years old.  He was about 14 when his coach got him to switch to serve and volley, but he never lost that solid foundation of groundstrokes.  He could rally with anyone - watch the 1999 Wimbledon final against Agassi.

  32

• AA

  @aarnoarnold1973 · 3 weeks ago

  Tennis used to be more fun to watch when there were net-rushing players. A serve and volleyer against a baseliner made for an especially gripping match. I heard about the courts slowing down and the balls getting heavier and thought that was the reason for the demise of serve and volley. I never realized how dramatic a difference the new strings made. Like Pete says, if a guy can rip a passing shot from 3 metres behind the baseline, that makes net play a much lower percentage strategy. I love technology, but it's not always for the better.

  25

• JO

  @jomoanderson5596 · 3 weeks ago

  One thing he didn’t mention about Lexilon or Polyester Monofilament string is the trade off cost. Injuries have skyrocketed on both Tours, Alcaraz just making a comeback. The emphasis on power has really forced an Arc of injuries from knees, wrist, rotator cuffs,& on.

  1

• RI

  @Ricky-mo6mv · 3 weeks ago

  Polyester strings truly do wonders for your game and do feel like cheating for those of us who started off playing with synthetic gut. I felt like a professional tennis player the first time I strung my racket with them.

  6

• JO

  @josephgonzalez1677 · 3 weeks ago

  Great perspective on the game then and now.

• JA

  @JamesFehr-n3o · 3 weeks ago

  There were metal rackets small  head stull Head Pro like Roscoe Tanner used..

• CN

  @cnyweathertainment5075 · 3 weeks ago

  I am<br>All for going back to 84” rackets with natural gut and ordinary Penn balls circa 1990, on the pro tour and for rec league. People turn everything into 9 ball, ergo rules changes in NASCAR, MLB, NFL, etc

  10

• RO

  @robertdenner2569 · 3 weeks ago

  make the balls lighter, speed up the courts, it&apos;&apos;ll bring back volleys and gut poly hybrids and protect the players

  22

• LA

  @larrywheels762 · 3 weeks ago

  Pete was my favorite tennis player because &nbsp;his serve and volley style. &nbsp; &nbsp;Made for great tennis viewing.

• MC

  @Mc-logic-z4s · 3 weeks ago (edited)

  Like life’s forever changing landscapes and boundaries , tennis changes as well, ……I’m guessing the reason the players camp on base line &nbsp; is because the shots are so fast with racket technology being a new key &nbsp;factor in players performance……<br>you start creeping to the net and you leave yourself exposed

  1

• MY

  @MyTomtom1111 · 3 weeks ago

  Courts are way too slow now,even the grass mix is slow. Serve and volley would never work now.

  2