He's the greatest grasscourt player ever.

That is the verdict on Pete Sampras by the man whose Grand Slam singles record the fast-serving American has just equalled - Roy Emerson.

Both Emerson, in the 1960s, and Sampras in the 1990s, have won 12 Grand Slam singles titles and Emerson now expects to be erased from the record books by Pistol Pete.

In Essex for Frinton's annual Dudley Stationery veterans event, Emerson, now 62, said: "He's probably the best grass court player of all time. His game is so suited to grass with his big serve."

Praise indeed from a man who won eight of his 12 Grand Slams on grass - two at Wimbledon and six in his native Australia.

"He's getting closer to this record of mine. I couldn't think of too many players that could beat him on his side of the draw at Wimbledon and once you get to the final it's a two-horse race.

"If he wants to break it, he certainly has the ability. He's going to be in the record books anyway and, at the moment, he's only 27."

Sampras will get the chance to set new figures at the US Open, the first Grand Slam he won back in 1990, later this summer.

But how do Sampras and his peers compare to Emerson and his?

"I don't think they play better tennis. They hit the ball harder, but that's to do with these new rackets," answered Emerson in between a host of interviews and autograph signings.

"When I was fit at my best, I wouldn't have minded playing him."

Emerson, who won only a trophy for his Wimbledon triumphs compared to Sampras's cheque for £455,000 on Sunday, added: "It would have been nice to play these days. But you can't have everything in life. Ours was a pretty nice era."

Now running a tennis camp in Switzerland, Emerson has played little recently but did manage to show some of his old magic in a mixed doubles encounter at Frinton yesterday when he teamed up with Gigi Fernandez.

Emerson in action

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