He has had sleepless nights after learning that the only man he hasn't beaten on court is currently the world's number one. Tennis icon Pete Sampras of the United States is making a comeback (in style) from his six-year retirement and is out to battle with the world's best tennis player of today --- Roger Federer, a 6' 1” right-handed tennis star from Oberwil, Switzerland.
Federer, who had to sweat heavily to defeat Sampras in the only match they had way back in 2001, has agreed to a return match with an equally great tennis superstar on March 10, 2008 at the Madison Square Garden and prove his peers right on him being the greatest tennis player in history. At stake is not just the purse, but the pride and re-affirmation of the being the world's best tennis player. Federer is also acclaimed to be the only player to win both the Wimbledon and U.S. Open singles titles in three consecutive years (2004-2006).
Dubbed as the NetJets Showdown, the March 10 match-up statistics couldn't get any closer as Sampras, one of the tennis superstars with the most number of wins and titles under his name, logged in a Career Singles' record of 762-222, 64 Career Singles' title, 14 of which in the fashion of a grand slam, as against Federer's 556-135 and 53 Career Singles' title, 12 of which came in style of a grand slam. Insofar as career earnings are concerned, Sampras had $43.28 million while Federer made $ 39 million. Sampras also had two Australian Open titles, seven from Wimbledon and five from the US Open. Equally impressive is Federer's three Australian Open titles, five Wimbledon crowns and four US Open titles.
