About the Pete Sampras

Pete Samprasis an American former world No. 1 tennis player. His professional career began in 1988 and ended at the 2002 US Open, which he won, defeating his longtime rival Andre Agassi in the final. Sampras won 14 major singles titles during his career, which was an all-time record at the time of his retirement: a then-record seven Wimbledon titles, two Australian Opens and a joint Open Era record five US Open titles. He won 64 ATP Tour-level singles titles in total. He first reached the world No. 1 ranking in 1993, and held that position for a total of 286 weeks (third all time), including an Open Era record of six consecutive year-end No. 1 rankings from 1993 to 1998. His precise and powerful serve earned him the nickname “Pistol Pete”. In 2007, he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Frequently Asked Questions

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  1. 1.

    In tennis, you can make a couple of mistakes and still win. Not in golf. I played three rounds in that Tahoe event, and I was drained. Mentally, not physically.

    Pete Sampras

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  2. 2.

    When you retire you want to get as far away as possible from the game for a couple of years.

    Pete Sampras

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  3. 3.

    It is nice to walk out on a court to have it packed.

    Pete Sampras

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  4. 4.

    Where I fall down is my short game. I don’t practice enough, and when I have to take a half swing from 50 yards out, that’s trouble.

    Pete Sampras

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  5. 5.

    There’s always one shot that I can rely on when I’m not hitting the ball that well, is my serve.

    Pete Sampras

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  6. 6.

    If Davis Cup was a little bit less or once every two years, I would be more inclined to play. But the way it is now, it is too much tennis for me.

    Pete Sampras

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  7. 7.

    The difference of great players is at a certain point in a match they raise their level of play and maintain it. Lesser players play great for a set, but then less.

    Pete Sampras

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  8. 8.

    I am going to hold serve the majority of the time. It is nice to have a little time to return serve.

    Pete Sampras

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  9. 9.

    For so long people have just taken what I do for granted. It is not easy to do year-in, year-out, to win Grand Slams and be No. 1.

    Pete Sampras

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  10. 10.

    Tennis is seen all around the world; if I am home or anywhere in the country, United States, people will stare.

    Pete Sampras

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  11. 11.

    People know me. I’m not going to produce any cartwheels out there. I’m not going to belong on Comedy Central. I’ll always be a tennis player, not a celebrity.

    Pete Sampras

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  12. 12.

    You kind of live and die by the serve.

    Pete Sampras

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  13. 13.

    Golfers are forever working on mechanics. My tennis swing hasn’t changed in 10 years.

    Pete Sampras

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  14. 14.

    I don’t know how I do it, I really don’t.

    Pete Sampras

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  15. 15.

    I let my racket do the talking. That’s what I am all about, really. I just go out and win tennis matches.

    Pete Sampras

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