Wimbledon Classic Match: Federer vs Sampras

In many ways Federer is much like the man he succeeded at the All England Club in 2001.

Federer showed his former idol the door with a sensational performance. The fourth-round thriller ended Sampras' remarkable reign - at least for the moment.

Sampras held a set point in the opening tiebreaker, but Federer erased it with a service winner. Sampras then lost the set four points later when he dumped an easy backhand into the net, and the battle was on.

Wearing a bandana and ponytail, Federer looks nothing like Sampras but plays with the same stylish ease and seems comfortable at the net. Much of the time the modest and unassuming Swiss star had the better serve, and he confidently closed out the third set with three consecutive service winners and an ace that kicked up chalk.

Sampras played his best tennis in the final two sets, smashing serves at up to 136 mph and looking like the champion of old at the net. Serving in the final game, he misplayed two volleys and fell behind 15-40. Federer then played a superb return winner - something he had done repeatedly over the previous 3 1/2 hours - and fell to his knees with glee before keeling over onto the turf.

The usually composed player could no longer hide his emotions and broke down with tears of joy.

A good match, but nadal fed better

A good match, but the 2007 and 2008 nadal federer finals had better quality tennis in them. Dont get me wrong, sampras was a great player but the tennis in here doesnt really show it. The majority of the points are quick and nothing too exciting. This match is just a symbol, the changing of the guard, thats all. If you are looking for good quality tennis, the nadal federer finals are the ones to watch October 21, 2008

Other Reasons to Like this DVD

** This match has NO Commercials and the coverage continues during the changeovers. Kinda cool to watch what they are doing when the camera on TV normally cut away.

** I watched this DVD on my iMAC - the quality of the video was excellent

** The DVD is divided up (logically) by set. Each set was around 40-50 minutes - the whole match was too long for me to watch at once but I just watched a set each night. Since I was playing tennis some days in between, it was cool to be inspired by the match

who are the announcers anyway?? One is American by the way - Pat McEnroe?? I saw John McEnroe and Ted Robinson in the background doing the commentary and kinda wished they were announcing here....but the two we heard we very good.

Definitely worth it. April 23, 2008

Good tennis -- but an outstanding moment in sports

I believe that any tennis fan that has not seen this 5-set nailbiter will very much enjoy watching the 'moment' when Sampras handed the keys to the castle to a young, immensely talented Roger Federer. Watching the 19 year old cry at the realization of his victory is worth the price alone. April 13, 2008

A "must have" for tennis lovers

This is truly a must have for tennis lovers since it is the only Federer-Sampras match. The tennis is not as good as I hoped. I say this not because of the few rallies (Sampras and Federer were both serving extremely well), but because Sampras was tired and late by half a step everywhere and Federer had not yet decided to stick to the baseline. (He played serve and volley and was not too good at it.) Sampras's serves and Federer's passing shots were breathtaking. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this excellent DVD with outstanding tennis, good photography and the subdued and knowledgeable British comentators who are a welcome relief from their cacophonous American counterparts.
January 30, 2008

An Amazing Clash Of Generations

It was the first game Federer played in Wimbledon Central Court and What Debut!!! For Federe to win his idol, Sampras (our - at that momment 7 times Wimblendon winner) in 5 really well played 5 sets, the really prize was happy tears at the end. Unfortunatelly a real revenge - with both playing a first class tennis - have never ocurred.
If you are having problem to find time to stay 3:40 hours go directly to the last game of the last set. Federer's service returns to win the game showed what this teenager would be able to do in the future and I guarantee that you will find the time. December 14, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...