Richard Krajicek draws a comparison between Pete Sampras and Jannik Sinner
Richard Krajicek makes a comparison between Pete Sampras and Jannik Sinner
In a lengthy interview with Supertennis, Dutchman Richard Krajicek, former world No. 4, 1996 Wimbledon winner and now tournament director of Rotterdam, makes a comparison between current men’s tennis and that of his time. More specifically, he compares Pete Sampras, whom he managed to beat during that Wimbledon tournament 28 years ago, the only one who managed to do so on the London grass between 1993 and 2000, and current world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. Here are Krajicek’s words.
"Beating Sinner today è more difficult than beating Sampras when I played. Sampras was an incredible player but I knew that if I could attack him on the backhand I would have a chance to beat him. Now everybody can do everything and they move great. I look at them and think, if I played now, how could I beat them? Today Sinner has no weakness”.
“Today they all handle themselves differently. Players have longer careers, have better teams, and in general are much more complete. When I played, even the best had weaknesses: the backhand for Sampras, the serve maybe for Agassi. I would go on the court and I had the feeling that I could beat anybody, even Sampras whom I defeated six times. Let's say I'm glad I played in the 1990s. The other big difference è the interaction with the fans. So much is invested in this, in Turin the Village to engage the fans è remarkable”.
“I think they are also more aware of the needs of tournaments today. When I played there was the Stars Program, four half-hour slots in a week where you had to take part in activities for the tournament. If you didn’t comply with them, they took away half the prize money you had earned that week. Then came players like Federer or Nadal who naturally had a very good relationship with the fans, they were very important in showing the new generation that managing the relationship with the fans is part of the job, è normal”.
“Here (in Turin, where the ATP Finals are taking place, ed.) the fans are watching a training session very closely, and è one of the things we try to do in Rotterdam as well. We try to create moments when the fans can almost touch the players, to reduce the distance a little bit. Let's say I'm glad I was a player in the 1990s and am now a tournament director, the reverse would have been more difficult”.
“I was No. 4 in the world in the world, but for most of my career I had a ranking that ranged from the No. 8 position to No. 12. And for someone with that ranking to be able to qualify in the top eight in the world è special. I don't know what it's like for Sinner or Djokovic who played it virtually every year. Maybe for them participating here è like participating in any other tournament. Clearly for us it was already special to have qualified, they go on the court to win the title”.
“I like people who come to the net, like Tsitsipas. I like to watch the Top 10, I love Sinner and Alcaraz especially when they play against each other. Jannik because of how he is so close to the line, how he stays low, how he moves and puts pressure; Alcaraz because he has moments in every match where you wonder how he managed to do certain things. I hope to see them one against the’other in the final”.
“The future of men’s tennis è very good. Many wondered what would happen after the era of the Federers, the Nadals, the Djokovic, and Sinner and Alcaraz came along. There'è Zverev who è number 2 and is playing very well, I think when he wins the first Slam then he will add more as è happened to Lendl who waited so long to win the first major. I am sure that new stars will come, men’s tennis è in good hands. Thanks to these champions tennis è very popular, in every tournament you see more and moreù fans”.
