Roger Federer makes big Pete Sampras claim at Indian Wells as he targets more glory
ROGER FEDERER has claimed he loved facing Pete Sampras earlier on in his career with the star counting to scale new heights at Indian Wells.
Federer is through to another Indian Wells final after seeing off Borna Coric.
The 36-year-old remains the best player in the world and the victory sees him take another step ahead of Rafael Nadal in the race for the world No 1 ranking.
Federer’s first major career highlight was beating Sampras at Wimbledon in 2001.
Two years after that, he won a first Wimbledon title and, in the time since, he has added 19 more Grand Slams to his collection.
And Roger Federer has now opened up about his old meeting with Sampras and lumped praise on the US star.
“I think there it was just trying to manage the nerves and trying to stay with Pete as long as possible,” he said.
“And the longer you can stay with a top guy, the more the chances grow, really, that you can all of a sudden sneak in a win.
“I remember saving breakpoints, serve and volleying on the second serve in the fifth set, half volley and volleying and then making the volley after that.
“Those were different days back then. You were living and dying by the sword back then.
“And then after that, I had a great return game eventually when I was able to win 7-5 in that fifth set. Picked the right side with the forehand.
Federer leaves journalists in stitches during press conference
“It kind of stung as much as it was joyful.
“It stung because I had to shake the hand of somebody I admired so much, and I knew how much it would hurt him and it would mean to me.
“It was a very odd moment. But I'm happy I had the opportunity to be on the court with him.
“Yes, I always would like to play with Pete. Because even nowadays, if I go hit balls with him, I see what made him so great.
“And I would still feel, like, even just hitting balls with him, I would learn with him.”