Pete Sampras
Sampras stunned the tennis world by winning the 1990 US Open at just 19, the youngest men's champion in tournament history. He became the dominant force of the 1990s starting in 1993, when he won his first Wimbledon and finished No. 1 for the first of six straight years. His grass-court mastery defined the era.
A Star at Nineteen
Sampras burst onto the scene by winning the 1990 US Open as a teenager, beating Andre Agassi in the final. It launched one of the most decorated careers in tennis history and a lasting rivalry with Agassi.
King of Grass
Armed with a devastating serve and graceful athleticism, Sampras won Wimbledon seven times in eight years. He finished as the year-end world No. 1 for a record six consecutive seasons from 1993 through 1998.
The Perfect Farewell
Sampras retired holding the all-time men's record of 14 major titles, later surpassed by Roger Federer. He bowed out in storybook fashion, winning the 2002 US Open in what proved to be his final professional match.
Career Timeline
- 1988Turned professional at age 16
- 1990Won US Open at 19, youngest male champion
- 1993Won first Wimbledon; reached world No. 1
- 1994Won first Australian Open title
- 1995Captured third straight Wimbledon crown
- 1998Finished year-end No. 1 a sixth straight time
- 2000Won 13th major, breaking the all-time record
- 2002Won 14th major at the US Open, his last match
- 2003Officially retired from professional tennis
- 2007Inducted into Tennis Hall of Fame
Biggest Hits
- Sampras's powerful serve earned him the nickname 'Pistol Pete'.
- His final career match was the 2002 US Open final, which he won, then never played again.
Portrait: Craig ONeal · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons