Gracious Sampras Pays Tribute to King of the Slams

LONDON - A jet-lagged Pete Sampras added his congratulations to the man who stole his tennis throne after Roger Federer won a sixth Wimbledon trophy Sunday to set the all-time mark of 15 Grand Slam singles titles.

“In my book Federer is the greatest,” Sampras said. “The guy is a legend. He’s an icon. He’s a credit to the game.”

The US player whose record of 14 majors had stood from 2000 until a month ago, when Federer pulled level on 14 after finally winning the French Open, made a late decision to fly with his wife from their Los Angeles home to London to witness potential history.

They were heading back Monday after Sampras rubbed shoulders again with fellow heroes Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg, among others, who watched the heroics over Andy Roddick, which lasted four and a quarter hours.

Laver gave the Swiss winner a nod as a mighty force in the game.

“I think the public should just watch his feet, just watch Roger and not the ball, and you’d see how great a player he is to pull off some of the shots. You just marvel at his ability to do that,” said the Australian, who swept two calendar-year Grand Slams, the last in 1969.

“It’s great that tennis has someone like Roger. We always look at Roger, he and Tiger Woods are good friends, fighting to see who can have the best number of Grand Slams in golf and tennis. Different sport, but they’re good friends. That all helps the game of tennis.”

Borg, winner of five straight Wimbledon crowns like Federer until the Swiss superstar lost to Rafael Nadal in the 2008 final, paid quite a tribute: “He gives 100 percent every time he plays. You will see him in many more finals.”

Sampras called the task of winning 15 majors in just seven seasons “a lot of work. He serves big, he’s smooth and a great athlete.

“I feel bad for Andy. This was his chance, and he came up short,” Sampras said. “But Roger just had a little bit more.”

Making his first visit to Wimbledon since losing in 2002, Sampras called the return “surreal, being back on this great court”.

“To see Roger play live was fun. It’s nice to be back, but it is a short trip.”