Sampras didn't expect Slam mark to be threatened

Pete Sampras thinks Roger Federer not only will break his record for Grand Slam titles but could wind up with as many as 18 or 19.

Federer will try to tie Sampras’ mark of 14 majors by beating Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final Sunday. Sampras gives Federer a slight edge in what he calls “a pick-‘em match.”

Sampras also says in a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Friday that if anyone is going to match or surpass his career total, it might as well be Federer, someone he considers a friend.

“I really thought that 14 would be a number that would be very tough to tie and break,” Sampras tells the AP, “but Roger just came along and dominated the game much more than I ever did.”