Sampras hails Federer as greatest

By Miles Evans

LONDON (Reuters) - A jetlagged Pete Sampras paid a surprise first visit to Wimbledon for seven years on Sunday to watch Roger Federer overtake his record for grand slam wins, and then hailed the Swiss as the game's best-ever player.

Sampras, returning to the club where he won seven titles in a decorated career, arrived unannounced from the U.S. hours before the final showdown and made his unexpected entrance to the club as Federer and American Andy Roddick were knocking up.

Federer's exhausting five-set victory game him his 15th grand slam title, against 14 for Sampras, and the American said the Swiss had settled the debate about the game's greatest.

"The critics say (Rod) Laver, and (Rafa) Nadal beat him a few times in majors, but he's won all the majors, he's going to win a few more here, so in my book he is.

"Roger's a friend, he's a great player, he's a good guy. He's got 15 now, he can get 17 or 18 majors. If he just keeps it going and stays healthy, he could go to 18, 19, actually.

"The guy's a legend and now he's an icon. He's got 15 majors, that's a lot of majors, that's a lot of work. He's a credit to the game."

FRONT ROW

Sampras entered the Royal Box with Roddick leading 2-1 in the opening set, waved to acknowledge the crowd's applause and took his place in the front row, a few seats away from other former champions Bjorn Borg and Laver.