Chennai:  World number 2 Rafael Nadal of Spain today said Roger Federer was a 'better' and 'complete' player in comparison to former tennis ace Pete Sampras, who has won a record 14 Grand Slam titles.

"For me the better player is Federer. He is a complete player, he has all the shots so he is the better player for me," said Nadal, whose second year as the world number two was marked by intense rivalry with Federer in 2006.

Nadal said it was not only the number of Grand Slam titles which should be counted while rating a player but also other factors like their points.

"In the end, it will be measured by who wins more titles at the Grand Slams, but for me the thing that history needs to see is not just the Grand Slam titles.

"You need to see the numbers, Federer, who has won nine Grand Slams, now have 8,300 points and Sampras when he was No.1 had 5,000 something. So he has a lot of points more than Sampras," the 20-year old, who is the top seed in the ongoing Chennai Open ATP tennis tournament, told reporters last night.

"You can still say that this one or that one is the better player, but for me Federer is the better player than Sampras," added Nadal, who prevented Federer from making a Grand Slam sweep by defeating him in the Roland Garros last year.

Nadal, who came on top over Federer four times out of the six meetings last season, also said he had no secret formula while playing against the World No 1 Federer.

"I don't know any secret when I get on to the court, I try my best and that's it. There is no secret,"  he said.