--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The way I look at the top five, (Rod)…" description: "\"The way I look at the top five, (Rod) Laver, (Roger) Federer, myself, Borg and (Ivan) Lendl. I think those five guys dominated their generations better..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/pete-sampras-7491_borg_the-way-i-look-at-the-top-five-rod-laver_1295902.jpg" --- # The way I look at the top five, (Rod) Laver, (Roger)… ![“The way I look at the top five, (Rod) Laver, (Roger) Federer, myself, Borg and (Ivan) Lendl. I think those five guys dominated their generations better than anyone. Maybe Roger will dominate better than any one of the other four. Maybe I put Andre (Agassi) as kind of six through 10 with, you know…” quote by Pete Sampras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/pete-sampras-7491_borg_the-way-i-look-at-the-top-five-rod-laver_1295902.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/pete-sampras-7491_borg_the-way-i-look-at-the-top-five-rod-laver_1295902.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/pete-sampras-7491_borg_the-way-i-look-at-the-top-five-rod-laver_1295902.jpg) > “The way I look at the top five, (Rod) Laver, (Roger) Federer, myself, Borg and (Ivan) Lendl. I think those five guys dominated their generations better than anyone. Maybe Roger will dominate better than any one of the other four. Maybe I put Andre (Agassi) as kind of six through 10 with, you know, (John) McEnroe and (Jimmy) Connors, kind of those guys. That's kind of how I see it.” [Pete Sampras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sampras/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He ranks five tennis greats as the most dominant of their eras, suggesting Federer may surpass them, and places others just behind. **In simple terms:** He lists top tennis players and ranks their dominance. Key Takeaway Consider how you rank greatness in any field. Themes sports legacy comparison achievement ranking Mood reflective analytical Type evaluative historical comparative When to use this quote - coaching - sports commentary - fan discussions - historical analysis Key Concepts dominance generational impact subjective ranking Questions to Reflect On - Who do you think dominates their generation? - How do you compare athletes across eras? A Different Perspective Ranking is subjective and can overlook different eras' contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agassi Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agassi-kind-4238025/) [Borg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borg/) [Federer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/federer/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Five Guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five-guys/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Guys Dominated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guys-dominated-4238026/) [Jimmy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jimmy/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Laver Roger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laver-roger-4238023/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Rod Laver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rod-laver-1070228/) [Roger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roger/) [Roger Dominate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roger-dominate-4238024/) [Six](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/six/) [Tennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tennis/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [My goal one day is to be in the same sentence as Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sampras/my-goal-one-day-is-to-be-in-the-same-sentence-as-rod-laver-and-ken/) [Pete Sampras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sampras/) > [My goal one day is to be in the same sentence as Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall. If I can match them for 10…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sampras/my-goal-one-day-is-to-be-in-the-same-sentence-as-rod-laver-and-ken-2/) [Pete Sampras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sampras/) > [You never know how many times you're going to be able to come out on Rod Laver Arena and just play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grigor-dimitrov/you-never-know-how-many-times-you-re-going-to-be-able-to-come-out-on/) [Grigor Dimitrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grigor-dimitrov/) > [The great champions were always vicious competitors. You never lose respect for a man who is a vicious competitor, and you never hate a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-gonzales/the-great-champions-were-always-vicious-competitors-you-never-lose/) [Pancho Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-gonzales/) > [Federer said something interesting once. He said that he was watching Rod Laver, and me, and he said he was trying to copy us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilie-nastase/federer-said-something-interesting-once-he-said-that-he-was-watching/) [Ilie Nastase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilie-nastase/) > [You'd have to think that if he'd been around today, Rod Laver would have been Rod Laver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-courier/you-d-have-to-think-that-if-he-d-been-around-today-rod-laver-would/) [Jim Courier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-courier/) > [I'm always on the look out for 'the good image'. I'm like The Borg (you know, Star Trek) inasmuch as I assimilate everything -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-panter/i-m-always-on-the-look-out-for-the-good-image-i-m-like-the-borg-you/) [Horace Panter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-panter/) > [Guys like John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and Stefan Edberg were also very good grass court players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-krajicek/guys-like-john-mcenroe-bjorn-borg-and-stefan-edberg-were-also-very/) [Richard Krajicek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-krajicek/) > [The real self and the public self are intertwined, like a tumor around an organ, and you can't cut the tumor or you'll kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/the-real-self-and-the-public-self-are-intertwined-like-a-tumor-around/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [The answer is for all of us to create our own systems, our own ideas, because vibrant independent ideas will trump this corporate, plastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-jones/the-answer-is-for-all-of-us-to-create-our-own-systems-our-own-ideas/) [Alex Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-jones/) > [Bjorn Borg looks like a hunchbacked, jut-bottomed version of Lizabeth Scott, impersonating a bearded Apache princess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/bjorn-borg-looks-like-a-hunchbacked-jut-bottomed-version-of-lizabeth/) [Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/) > [“Resistance, however, is useless. (1939)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-van-vogt/resistance-however-is-useless-1939/) [A. E. Van Vogt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-van-vogt/) > [Borg's won Wimbledon four straight times and out there he has just lost an 18-16 tie breaker. You'd think maybe once he'd let up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/borg-s-won-wimbledon-four-straight-times-and-out-there-he-has-just/) [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) > [Tennis legend Bjorn Borg appeared in a Swedish TV ad urging Swedes to have more sex to solve the country's falling birth rate. America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/argus-hamilton/tennis-legend-bjorn-borg-appeared-in-a-swedish-tv-ad-urging-swedes-to/) [Argus Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/argus-hamilton/) > [In 1992, one of my dearest friends, Anita Borg, came to me with an idea: a conference featuring women Computer Scientists. The conference would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/telle-whitney/in-1992-one-of-my-dearest-friends-anita-borg-came-to-me-with-an-idea/) [Telle Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/telle-whitney/) ## More by Pete Sampras > [There's always one shot that I can rely on when I'm not hitting the ball that well, is my serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sampras/there-s-always-one-shot-that-i-can-rely-on-when-i-m-not-hitting-the/) [Pete Sampras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sampras/) > [Success is walking out of here with the title, and anything less is not good enough in my book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sampras/success-is-walking-out-of-here-with-the-title-and-anything-less-is/) [Pete Sampras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sampras/) > [The only person that I have met, that I have ever been in awe of, is Eddie Vedder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sampras/the-only-person-that-i-have-met-that-i-have-ever-been-in-awe-of-is/) [Pete Sampras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sampras/) > [My goal one day is to be in the same sentence as Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sampras/my-goal-one-day-is-to-be-in-the-same-sentence-as-rod-laver-and-ken/) [Pete Sampras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sampras/) > [People wrote me off, but I believed in myself. I got the confidence back, and it grew and grew. I won my first major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sampras/people-wrote-me-off-but-i-believed-in-myself-i-got-the-confidence/) [Pete Sampras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sampras/) > [I've always led a pretty simple life, with few extravagances. The money in tennis never drove me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sampras/i-ve-always-led-a-pretty-simple-life-with-few-extravagances-the-money/) [Pete Sampras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sampras/) > [My serve was there, everything was just clicking. Those are the days you dream about, especially in a final.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sampras/my-serve-was-there-everything-was-just-clicking-those-are-the-days/) [Pete Sampras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sampras/) > [I could be a jerk and get a lot more publicity, but that's not who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sampras/i-could-be-a-jerk-and-get-a-lot-more-publicity-but-that-s-not-who-i-am/) [Pete Sampras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sampras/) > [Retirement is a work in progress. I try to figure out my day, and what I know about myself is that I need structure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sampras/retirement-is-a-work-in-progress-i-try-to-figure-out-my-day-and-what/) [Pete Sampras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sampras/) > [Andre Agassi was my rival in the '90s, and I think as we got older we sort of transcended the game. He was probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sampras/andre-agassi-was-my-rival-in-the-90s-and-i-think-as-we-got-older-we/) [Pete Sampras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sampras/) > [Once the fifth set comes, it's a matter of nerves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sampras/once-the-fifth-set-comes-it-s-a-matter-of-nerves/) [Pete Sampras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sampras/) > [I'm not worried about the weekend, I'm worried about Saturday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sampras/i-m-not-worried-about-the-weekend-i-m-worried-about-saturday/) [Pete Sampras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sampras/) > [Players aren't quite as intimidated by my name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sampras/players-aren-t-quite-as-intimidated-by-my-name/) [Pete Sampras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sampras/) > [It is nice to walk out on a court to have it packed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sampras/it-is-nice-to-walk-out-on-a-court-to-have-it-packed/) [Pete Sampras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sampras/) > [What I've done in the game is always going to stick, no matter what happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sampras/what-i-ve-done-in-the-game-is-always-going-to-stick-no-matter-what/) [Pete Sampras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sampras/) [Explore all 90 Pete Sampras quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sampras/) ## More Borg quotes > [In 1992, one of my dearest friends, Anita Borg, came to me with an idea: a conference featuring women Computer Scientists. The conference would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/telle-whitney/in-1992-one-of-my-dearest-friends-anita-borg-came-to-me-with-an-idea/) [Telle Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/telle-whitney/) > [Tennis legend Bjorn Borg appeared in a Swedish TV ad urging Swedes to have more sex to solve the country's falling birth rate. America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/argus-hamilton/tennis-legend-bjorn-borg-appeared-in-a-swedish-tv-ad-urging-swedes-to/) [Argus Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/argus-hamilton/) > [Borg's won Wimbledon four straight times and out there he has just lost an 18-16 tie breaker. You'd think maybe once he'd let up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/borg-s-won-wimbledon-four-straight-times-and-out-there-he-has-just/) [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) > [“Resistance, however, is useless. (1939)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-van-vogt/resistance-however-is-useless-1939/) [A. E. Van Vogt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-van-vogt/) > [Bjorn Borg looks like a hunchbacked, jut-bottomed version of Lizabeth Scott, impersonating a bearded Apache princess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/bjorn-borg-looks-like-a-hunchbacked-jut-bottomed-version-of-lizabeth/) [Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/) > [The answer is for all of us to create our own systems, our own ideas, because vibrant independent ideas will trump this corporate, plastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-jones/the-answer-is-for-all-of-us-to-create-our-own-systems-our-own-ideas/) [Alex Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-jones/) > [The real self and the public self are intertwined, like a tumor around an organ, and you can't cut the tumor or you'll kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/the-real-self-and-the-public-self-are-intertwined-like-a-tumor-around/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [Guys like John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and Stefan Edberg were also very good grass court players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-krajicek/guys-like-john-mcenroe-bjorn-borg-and-stefan-edberg-were-also-very/) [Richard Krajicek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-krajicek/) > [I'm always on the look out for 'the good image'. I'm like The Borg (you know, Star Trek) inasmuch as I assimilate everything -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-panter/i-m-always-on-the-look-out-for-the-good-image-i-m-like-the-borg-you/) [Horace Panter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-panter/) > [As a kid I loved John McEnroe. They called me Mac because, while everyone else liked Borg, I was crazy about McEnroe. I tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachin-tendulkar/as-a-kid-i-loved-john-mcenroe-they-called-me-mac-because-while/) [Sachin Tendulkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachin-tendulkar/) > [Like a Volvo, Bjorn Borg is rugged, has good after-sales service, and is very dull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/like-a-volvo-bjorn-borg-is-rugged-has-good-after-sales-service-and-is/) [Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/) > [Every procedure for getting a cat to take a pill works fine - once. Like the Borg, they learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/every-procedure-for-getting-a-cat-to-take-a-pill-works-fine-once-like/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I had true rivalries. Not only did I want to beat my opponent, but I didn't want to let him up, either. I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-connors/i-had-true-rivalries-not-only-did-i-want-to-beat-my-opponent-but-i/) [Jimmy Connors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-connors/) > [He used to talk to me about Russia all the time and had sworn up and down that I'd love it here. "To you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/he-used-to-talk-to-me-about-russia-all-the-time-and-had-sworn-up-and/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) [Browse all 15 Borg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borg/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The way I look at the top five, (Rod) Laver, (Roger) Federer, myself, Borg and (Ivan) Lendl. I think those five guys dominated their generations better than anyone. Maybe Roger will dominate better than any one of the other four. Maybe I put Andre (Agassi) as kind of six through 10 with, you know, (John) McEnroe and (Jimmy) Connors, kind of those guys. 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