Let's have some fun. The premise is simple. Take two good or great players who barely played each other (1-3 times) because of the generational difference and pit them against each other near each other's peak. Feel free to add your own Peak Matchup! Then discuss!
In this case, we will match up the American Serving Sensation, Pete Sampras, with the Swiss Maestro, Roger Federer.
Their lone meeting, Wimbledon 2001 - 19 year old [#15] Roger Federer def. 29 year old [#6] Pete Sampras, 7-6(7), 5-7, 6-4, 6-7(2), 7-5.
It was Federer's first match ever on Wimbledon's Center Court, and he was pitted against Sampras, the 4 times defending and overall 7 time Wimbledon champion.
Watch young Federer withstand the pressure in a tight match throughout, pointing the way to the great player he would later become. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSIx60skGJMNow from this match, let's rewind 6 years and fast forward 6 years, with both at/near their peak, 1995 Sampras vs. 2007 Federer, how would they do against each other in each other's time and conditions? Feel free to discuss. I'm including the sample scenario below to aid the discussion. In your own Peak Matchup submissions, you can do what you want.
For example, let's say they could play each other
at each major in
1995, who will win?
AO: Federer (It's a shorter trip for Federer from his holiday villa in the Maldives, Pete was exhausted)
RG: Federer (French cuisine doesn't agree with Sampras, gets a stomach ache and looks sick most of the match)
WC: Sampras (Wimbledon 90's grass, Sampras rules)
US: Sampras (US Open - Sampras is at home on the faster Decoturf)
For example, let's say they could play each other
at each major in
2007, who will win?
AO: Federer (Global warming, too hot down under for Pete, mate. Federer cools off after practicing in the desert of Dubai)
RG: Federer (Federer speaks French - c'est la vie - smokes a Parisienne cigarette, and wins the crowd)
WC: Federer (Wimbledon's change to green clay infuriates Sampras, talented Federer plays on anything)
US: Sampras (Roger distracted by the lights of Broadway, believes his Kingly persona will get the job done. It doesn't. )
Respectfully,
masterclass