Pete Sampras: Novak’s season best I’ve seen in my lifetime!

   Speaking ahead of an ATP Champions circuit event in South Florida last week, Pete Sampras heralded Nole's current season as the best he's ever seen.
 
" At least in my lifetime, the best ever ", Sampras told the Palm Beach Post. He also labeled it "one of the best achievements in all of sports."
Djokovic's mental approach has been the key, the 14-time Grand Slam champion said.
 
" I always thought Novak was a bit temperamental and would go through these lapses that would prevent him from winning majors ", Sampras said. " And now you look - he lost the first two sets against Roger and boom! He recovered within a couple of minutes. He's got a short memory now. He's progressed into this great champion. "
 
This year Nole has a 64-3 record and has won 10 titles including three Grand Slam events.
 
   Just nine months ago, everyone was asking how anyone was going to beat Rafael Nadal. Now, witnessing one of the greatest individual seasons in tennis history, the tennis world is asking the same question about Djokovic.
 
   The Serbian star won three of this year's four majors, two in finals against his predecessor Rafael Nadal.
 
John McEnroe also paid tribute to Nole for winning his third Grand Slam title of the season and putting together what McEnroe calls " the greatest year in the history of our sport ".
" Novak has taken tennis to new heights ", said the American.
 
Coming from McEnroe, who himself put together a 82-3 record in 1984, it is quite a statement.
 
" Djokovic is having the greatest year in the history of our sport, there's no doubt about it", he said. "He bewildered Nadal. I've never seen Nadal look as if he doesn't know what to do – and even on clay in Rome Djokovic made him look like that. "
 
" Wimbledon was where he separated himself and took himself to a whole new level. He beat Nadal six times in one year and, considering the year Nadal had in 2010, that's pretty hard to do. "
 
" Just as a single season, I think Djokovic's season is the best since Laver in 1969 ", said Patrick McEnroe, the commentator and former USA Davis Cup captain.
  SOURCE: Novak Djokovic Official WebSite
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Inside Tennis: Pete Sampras on Novak!

   Here is part of Q&A with Nole’s idol, 14-time Grand Slam champion Pete Sampras, by Richard Osborn.
Question: You mention Novak - talk about his performance in Melbourne. What makes him special?
 
Pete Sampras: Great mover. He can go from defense to offense better than anyone in the game.
 
Question: Better than Nadal?
 
Pete Sampras: I think he does more. He hits the ball a little flatter. He hits those flat backhands and he just sort of slides and is able to get that ball deep. It’s hard to compete with Nadal when it comes to defense, but Djokovic is right there with him. He seemed very inspired down there. He had a lot of support from his homeland. And Novak is an emotional player. When he’s feeling great and is in a good mood and the crowd is pulling for him, he’s a very tough player to beat. I always felt that he’s a little bit temperamental at times, but when he has it all together, he’s right there with Roger and Nadal.
 
Question: You were No. 1 for a record six straight years. Is he capable of getting to the top spot?
 
Pete Sampras: I don’t know where the points stand, but sure. He started off winning the Australian and he’s going to be a threat for the rest of the year. He believes in himself a little bit more. He’s beaten Roger twice in majors. He could very well do it. He’s still got a lot of work ahead of him. Nadal’s got a tough year to defend. I wouldn’t count out Roger at all. It will be interesting to see. Novak has now arrived, and the way he played and beat Roger in straight sets, and Murray in straight sets, is pretty impressive.
  SOURCE: Novak Djokovic Official WebSite
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