Sports -> The Best Tennis Players in the World -> Pete Sampras

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Pete Sampras was born in Washington DC, is the third son of Sammy and George Sampras, Greek immigrants. From an early age, Pete showed impressive athletic ambitions. The young Sampras discovered a rocket in his basement, that made him to spend hours hitting the ball against a wall. In 1978, Sampras family moved to Palos Verdes, California, where warm climate allowed Pete to play more tennis. He joined the Peninsula Racquet Club then, where he demonstrated his talent for the first time. At 11 years, he already had learned the work-volley technique, which was to become the main part of his game. He  was discovered by Peter Fisher, a pediatrician and tennis fan who became his mentor for much of his career, supervising his trainings and hiring to the player different coaches.

 

Sampras turned into a professional tennis player when he was 16 years old, in 1988. He reached the finals at the U.S. Open in 1989, defeating the 1988 champion, Mats Wilander in a five-set match in the second round. He won his first major tour in February 1990, at Philadelphia. In August of the same year he won his first Grand Slam at the U.S. Open. On the way to victory in the quarterfinals he eliminated Ivan Lendl in five sets, stopping the series of eight consecutive final at Flushing Meadows. Sampras defeated John McEnroe in four sets in the semifinals, for playing in the final with another young American talent, Andre Agassi.

Sampras dominated the Wimbledon during the next 10 years and won three consecutive titles between 1993 and 1995. He has lost in 1996 the quarter-final against Richard Krajicek, who was the winner later. He won four titles later in a row between 1997 and 2000, becoming the most successful player in Wimbledon history. His victory in 2000 has surpassed the record of Ray Emerson, who won 12 Grand Slam titles.

 

Sampras reached the semifinals of the Australian Open in 2000, losing in front of Agassi, who would win the tournament, and was forced himself in Miami for the third time in March. He beat the record of 12 Grand Slam tournaments, winning Wimbledon again, despite a leg injury. After this victory, Pete has not won any title for two years. He lost in the finals at the U.S. Open in 2000 and 2001, in front of Marat Safin and Lleyton Hewitt, making him to think that many will not be able to win a major tournament ever again.

 

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