'Murray can match Federer' - Sampras

Published on Saturday 24 November 2007 01:36

FOURTEEN-TIME Grand Slam winner Pete Sampras believes Andy Murray is amongst a small group who can challenge the dominance of world No 1 Roger Federer.

20-year-old Murray ended the year ranked 11th in the world and narrowly missed out on a place at the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai.

Murray beat the 12-time Grand Slam winner at the Cincinnati Masters in 2006 with Federer's only other defeat that year coming against world No 2 Rafael Nadal.

Sampras believes British No 1 Murray is among the likes of Nadal, Serbian Novak Djokovic, Ukrainian Nikolay Davydenko and Spain's David Ferrer who make up the pack trailing the five-time Wimbledon champion.

"I think Andy has a lot of potential. He has had to deal with some injuries but he is part of a crew that can threaten Roger. Roger is still the man to beat, but it is possible." Sampras said.

Sampras insists Federer's opposition falls short of the standard of Rafter, Agassi, Edberg, Becker and Courier, who formed the American's main challengers when he dominated in the 1990s and early part of this decade.

"I had more major winners up against me versus the rising stars behind Roger."

Federer also acknowledged Murray ranks among his nearest challengers.

"I think it is going to be fun over the next few years with other young talent like Andy Murray, Richard Gasquet and Marcos Baghdatis looking to make the next step." he said.