Tennis: To beat Federer, go on attack, says Sampras

Pete Sampras

NEW YORK - Pete Sampras insists he is not contemplating a comeback and that an exhibition match scheduled for tomorrow is simply for fun.

But the 34-year-old American, who holds the record with 14 men's grand slam singles titles, said he knew what it would take to derail world No 1 Roger Federer.

"With Roger, the problem is with his competition today, I don't see anyone with a big enough weapon to hurt him," Sampras said ahead of his match against fellow American Robby Ginepri in Houston.

"They're just staying back and Roger is able to move well enough and dictate well enough. With Roger you just have to beat him. You just have to serve well and attack him."

Federer, 24, has taken charge of the men's game since Sampras retired after winning the 2002 US Open. The Swiss player has won seven grand slams and has held the number one rank for more than two years.

"There's no one out there that has a big enough game, a big enough serve to really put pressure on him. I would stick to my game and hopefully that would be big enough to beat him," said Sampras.

He had been playing a lot of golf and started to get into poker, when he felt the itch to pick up a racket again.

"When you retire you want to get as far away as possible from the game for a couple of years."

Sampras scarcely played any tennis over the past three years before deciding around Christmas he would like to ease back into it.

- REUTERS