- * mtenis.pun.pl - forum tenisowe, Tenis ATP http://www.mtenis.pun.pl/index.php - Zawodnicy na "emeryturze" http://www.mtenis.pun.pl/viewforum.php?id=7 - Pete Sampras http://www.mtenis.pun.pl/viewtopic.php?id=54
Robertinho - 11-09-2008 17:23:22
Pete Sampras (ur. 12 sierpnia 1971 w Waszyngtonie) - Amerykanin, pochodzenia greckiego, uważany za jednego z najwybitniejszych graczy w historii tenisa, 14-krotny zwycięzca turniejów wielkoszlemowych w grze pojedynczej. Nazywany Pistol Pete i Mister Perfect
7 razy Wimbledon
5 razy US Open
2 razy Australian Open
Najlepszy serwis w historii tenisa, najlepszy drugi serwis w historii tenisa, najlepsza gra przy siatce w historii tenisa(tak, byli zawodnicy z ładniejszym wolejem, ale Pete najlepiej GRAŁ przy sieci), obok Federera najlepszy forehand w historii tenisa... Grał pięknie i efektownie, uwielbiał popisywać się swoją sprawnością i zręcznością( jego smecze z wyskoku były absolutnie unikalne).
Czy trzeba mówić więcej? Może jeszcze to, że Pistol był ( i ciągle jest) człowiekiem z najwyższą klasą, tak na korcie, jak i poza nim. Był też prawdziwym wojownikiem kortów, zawodnikiem który nigdy się nie poddawał, mimo że niejednokrotnie przyszło mu walczyć nie tylko z innymi wielkimi tego sportu, ale też ze słabościo własnego organizmu. Król trawy, geniusz ofensywy, ale i w długich wymianch potrafił ogrywać najlepszych z najlepszych, z Agassim na czele.
Brakowało mu jedynie wygranej na kortach w Paryżu, Pete nie miał zdrowia do gry na mączce, a jego sposób i technika gry(atak i płaskie uderzenia z głębi kortu) kompletnie nie pasowały do cegły, na której zresztą bardzo kiepsko się poruszał. Jeden tylko raz deszedł do półfinału RG, gdzie zresztą został rozbity przez Kafelnikowa.
Jego rywalizacja z Andre Agassim była motorem populatności ATP przez cała lata 90-te i poczatek XXI wieku. Początkowo były miedzy nimi różnice i niesnaski, Andre powiedział kiedyś, że Pete "rusza się, jakby właśnie zszedł z drzewa"(co zresztą moim zdanim było specyficznym koplementem, dobrze oddającym nieludzka zręczność i miękkość ruchów Samprasa), potem przerodziło się to w wielki wzajemny szacunek, może nawet przyjazń. Panowie rozegrali między sobą wiele niesamowitych spotkań, które przeszły do legendy. Dla mnie ich najlepszy mecz odbył się w 1/4 USO 2001. Nocna sesja, 4 TB, żadnego przełamania. Poziom tego pojedynku był STRATOSFERYCZNY, genialne serwowanie, zresztą z obu stron, mistrzostwo wolejowe Samprasa i cuda defensywne i returnowe Andre. Niespotykanie było tempo wymian w tym pojedynku, obaj stali pół kroku w korcie, grali płasko, nikt się nie cofał się pod bande, piłka wracała błyskawicznie na drugą stronę. Moim zdaniem, pod względem poziomu sportowego, jakości gry obu zawodników, tempa wymian, trudności zagrań, był to, obok spotkania Federer - Safin na TMC 2004, najlepszy mecz w historii tenisa.
Dla mnie osobiście... Bohater mojego dziecińtwa i wczesnej młodości, mistrz bez skazy, geniusz trochę mi narzucony, bo jak zaczynałem oglądać tenis i się nim interesować, Sampras był najlepszy z definicji. I jest jedna rzecz, o której muszę wspomnieć. Półfinał AO 95. Nie wiem za bardzo, czy pamiętam to naprawdę, czy też widziałem potem tyle razy, że mi się utrwaliło jako wspmninie, nieważne zresztą. Widok zalanego łzami Pete'a, który serwował asa za asem, to dla mnie jeden z najbardziej poruszających obrazów, jakie widziałem na sportowych arenach.
A to nie jest tak prosta sprawa jak mogłoby się wydawać. Trzeba odpowiednio wyczuć moment wyskoku, idealnie zawinąć nadgarstek i skierować główkę rakiety w odpowiednią stronę. Kapitalnie kończył te akcje Pete. Co tu dużo mówić - geniusz ;)
DUN I LOVE - 11-09-2008 22:05:59
O Samprasie można opowiadać w nieskończoność, ja w swoim 1 poście o Nim (będzie ich masa - zaręczam ;) ) chciałbym zwrócić uwagę na Jego nieprawdopodobnie mocną psychikę, która poniekąd brała się z nieograniczonego zaufania do własnych umiejętności. Głównie było to widoczne podczas Jego podania. Potrafił przy Break Poincie w finale Wielkiego Szlema aplikować rywalowi asy z 2 serwisu (!) - ktoś by powiedział, że to fart, po prostu zaryzykował i się udało - ja sądzę, że po pierwsze Jego podanie było perfekcyjne, a po drugie nerwy miał ze stali.
Zresztą po meczu z Schalkenem w 1/2 USO 2002 (przedostatni mecz w karierze) stwierdził wprost: "było bardzo trudno, ale do końca wierzyłem w swój serwis".
Właśnie to podanie i mocny łeb to podwaliny Jego sukcesu - w dalszej kolejności wolej i forhand. Natomiast owe smecze to po prostu element, dzięki któremu ludzie pragnęli go oglądać w akcji, coś jak ten backhandowy "prztyczek" Federera.
Pete to pod koniec lat 90 mój drugi ulubiony gracz - dzięki niemu zacząłem dostrzegać to jak fascynujący jest sukces w sporcie - owa fascynacja trwa do dziś, mało tego : rozwija się w zastraszającym tempie.
Napisze tak jak Kuba: Sampras to geniusz.
Fed-Expresso - 12-09-2008 14:39:01
Dla mnie rywalizacja Sampras-Agassi była o wiele bardziej elektryzująca od ówczesnej Federer-Nadal, przedewszystkim dlatego, że wynik przed każdym spotkaniem był sprawą otwartą, obaj szanowali się równomiernie, a co najważniejsze jeden nie bał się drugiego(co ma miejsce w pojedynkach Roger-Rafa). Pete był znakomitym tenisistą, 7 sukcesów na kortach Wimbledonu to niewiarygodny wynik, jego podanie wyglądało niesamowicie naturalnie a co najważniejsze było zabójczo skuteczne. Woleje szczególnie na nawierchnii trawiastej wyglądały mega-efektownie, nie widziałem nikogo kto potrafiłby wyczyniać z piłką takie cuda pod siecią.
Radek - 12-09-2008 17:46:08
:good:Pete Sampras = Michael Jeffrey Jordan = Diego Armando Maradona:good:
COA - 18-10-2008 12:59:41
Kubecki napisał:
Smecze nie do odebrania ;)
A to nie jest tak prosta sprawa jak mogłoby się wydawać. Trzeba odpowiednio wyczuć moment wyskoku, idealnie zawinąć nadgarstek i skierować główkę rakiety w odpowiednią stronę. Kapitalnie kończył te akcje Pete. Co tu dużo mówić - geniusz ;)
Ah Kubuś, ty ekspercie xD
Sydney - 17-06-2009 19:12:39
Pete na srebrnym ekranie ;)
w espn classic sb 20/06 15.20 ; Final Wimbledonu 99 z Agassim nd21/06 23.45 ; 4rn Wimbledonu 01 z Federerem
( skróty) tym bardziej polecam ;)
Raddcik - 17-06-2009 20:40:20
Mecz z Federerem był dziś o 18 :D
I zrobie mały off top - dzis na espn o 22:45 oficjalny film Wimbla 04,jutro o tej samej porze 05 :D
Sydney - 17-06-2009 21:49:27
Raddcik napisał:
Mecz z Federerem był dziś o 18 :D
Wlasnie po raz pierwszy to dzis widziałem , teraz najwczesniej w wekeend to pokażą . A ten oficjalny film z Wimbledonu 2004 to wg. mnie rewelacja . Roddick odziany w Reeboka to był gość :D
jaccol55 - 31-07-2009 12:34:47
Rok 1990
#1 Philadelphia: R64 Bye R32 Milan Srejber (CZE) W 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 R16 Andre Agassi (USA) W 5-7, 7-5 RET Q Tim Mayotte (USA) W 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 S Mark Kratzmann (AUS) W 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 W Andres Gomez (ECU) W 7-6, 7-5, 6-2
#2 Manchester: R32 Alexander Volkov (RUS) W 4-6, 7-6, 7-6 R16 Joey Rive (USA) W 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 Q Kelly Evernden (NZL) W 6-3, 7-6 S Eric Jelen (GER) W 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 W Gilad Bloom (ISR) W 7-6, 7-6
#3 US Open: R128 Dan Goldie (USA) W 6-1, 7-5, 6-1 R64 Peter Lundgren (SWE) W 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 R32 Jakob Hlasek (SUI) W 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 R16 Thomas Muster (AUT) W 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 6-3 Q Ivan Lendl (USA) W 6-4, 7-6, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2 S John McEnroe (USA) W 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 W Andre Agassi (USA) W 6-4, 6-3, 6-2
#4 Grand Slam Cup: R16 Andrei Cherkasov (RUS) W 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 Q Goran Ivanisevic (CRO) W 7-6, 6-7, 8-6 S Michael Chang (USA) W 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 W Brad Gilbert (USA) W 6-3, 6-4, 6-2
jaccol55 - 31-07-2009 12:53:51
Rok 1991
#5 Los Angeles: R32 Gilad Bloom (ISR) W 6-0, 6-2 R16 Shuzo Matsuoka (JPN) W 6-3, 6-4 Q Amos Mansdorf (ISR) W 6-3, 6-4 S Stefano Pescosolido (ITA) W 6-3, 6-1 W Brad Gilbert (USA) W 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3
#6 Indianapolis: R64 Bye R32 Grant Stafford (RSA) W 6-4, 6-2 R16 Patrick McEnroe (USA) W 6-3, 6-4 Q Richard Fromberg (AUS) W 7-6(1), 6-2 S Jim Courier (USA) W 6-3, 7-6(7) W Boris Becker (GER) W 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-3
#7 Lyon: R32 Tom Nijssen (NED) W 6-3, 6-2 R16 Thierry Champion (FRA) W 6-1, 6-3 Q Jonas Svensson (SWE) W 6-2, 6-2 S Brad Gilbert (USA) W 6-1, 6-2 W Olivier Delaitre (FRA) W 6-1, 6-1
#8 ATP Tour World Championship, Frankfurt: RR Michael Stich (GER) N/A W 6-2, 7-6(3) Stats RR Andre Agassi (USA) N/A W 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 Stats RR Boris Becker (GER) N/A L 4-6, 7-6(3), 1-6 Stats S Ivan Lendl (USA) N/A W 6-2, 6-3 Stats W Jim Courier (USA) N/A W 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-4
jaccol55 - 31-07-2009 13:42:52
Rok 1992
#9 Philadelphia: R64 Bye R32 David Dilucia (USA) W 6-2, 6-1 R16 Stefano Pescosolido (ITA) W 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 Q Aaron Krickstein (USA) W 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(7) S Brad Gilbert (USA) W 6-4, 6-3 W Amos Mansdorf (ISR) W 6-1, 7-6(4), 2-6, 7-6(2)
#10 Kitzbuhel: R64 Bye R32 German Lopez (ESP) W 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) R16 Tomas Carbonell (ESP) W 6-4, 6-1 Q Gabriel Markus (ARG) W 6-3, 7-6(4) S Marcelo Filippini (URU) W 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-0 W Alberto Mancini (ARG) W 6-3, 7-5, 6-3
#11 TMS Cincinnatti: R64 Bye R32 Francisco Montana (USA) W 7-6(7), 3-6, 6-3 R16 Mark Woodforde (AUS) W 2-6, 7-6(8), 6-3 Q Petr Korda (CZE) W 6-3, 6-3 S Stefan Edberg (SWE) W 6-2, 6-3 W Ivan Lendl (USA) W 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
#12 Indianapolis: R64 Bye R32 Stephane Sansoni (FRA) W 6-0, 6-1 R16 Todd Witsken (USA) W 6-4, 7-5 Q Thomas Enqvist (SWE) W 6-0, 7-6(6) S Boris Becker (GER) W 6-7(3), 6-2, 7-6(3) W Jim Courier (USA) W 6-4, 6-4
#13 Lyon: R32 Jeff Tarango (USA) W 7-6(5), 6-3 R16 Marc Rosset (SUI) W 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 Q Markus Zoecke (GER) W 6-4, 6-3 S MaliVai Washington (USA) W 6-0, 6-2 W Cedric Pioline (FRA) W 6-4, 6-2
jaccol55 - 31-07-2009 13:56:18
Rok 1993
#14 Sydney: R32 Andrei Medvedev (UKR) W 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 R16 Mark Woodforde (AUS) W 6-4, 6-3 Q Nicklas Kulti (SWE) W 6-4, 6-2 S Amos Mansdorf (ISR) W 6-3, 7-5 W Thomas Muster (AUT) W 7-6(7), 6-1
#15 TMS Miami: R128 Bye R64 Todd Martin (USA) W 6-3, 6-4 R32 Jeff Tarango (USA) W 7-6(4), 6-3 R16 Andrei Medvedev (UKR) W 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2 Q Richard Krajicek (NED) W 6-3, 7-6(7) S Petr Korda (CZE) W 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 W MaliVai Washington (USA) W 6-3, 6-2
#16 Tokio: R64 Bye R32 Jamie Morgan (AUS) W 7-5, 6-3 R16 Guillaume Raoux (FRA) W 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-3 Q David Wheaton (USA) W 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 S Wally Masur (AUS) W 6-4, 6-2 W Brad Gilbert (USA) W 6-2, 6-2, 6-2
#17 Hong kong: R32 Stephane Simian (FRA) W 6-2, 6-4 R16 David Prinosil (GER) W 6-3, 6-4 Q David Wheaton (USA) W 6-4, 6-4 S Amos Mansdorf (ISR) W 2-6, 7-6(1), 7-6(3) W Jim Courier (USA) W 6-3, 6-7(1), 7-6(2)
#18 Wimbledon: R128 Neil Borwick (AUS) W 6-7(10), 6-3, 7-6(3), 6-3 R64 Jamie Morgan (AUS) W 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-4 R32 Byron Black (ZIM) W 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 R16 Andrew Foster (GBR) W 6-1, 6-2, 7-6(6) Q Andre Agassi (USA) W 6-2, 6-2, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4 S Boris Becker (GER) W 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-4 W Jim Courier (USA) W 7-6(3), 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-3
#19 US Open: R128 Fabrice Santoro (FRA) W 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 R64 Daniel Vacek (CZE) W 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 7-6(3) R32 Arnaud Boetsch (FRA) W 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 R16 Thomas Enqvist (SWE) W 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(4) Q Michael Chang (USA) W 6-7, 7-6(2), 6-1, 6-1 S Alexander Volkov (RUS) W 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 W Cedric Pioline (FRA) W 6-4, 6-4, 6-3
#20 Lyon: R32 Tomas Carbonell (ESP) W 7-5, 6-3 R16 Markus Naewie (GER) W 6-3, 6-3 Q Stephane Simian (FRA) W 6-4, 7-5 S Jakob Hlasek (SUI) W 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) W Cedric Pioline (FRA) W 7-6(5), 1-6, 7-5
#21 Antwerpia: R32 David Wheaton (USA) W 6-3, 6-2 R16 Javier Sanchez (ESP) W 6-4, 7-5 Q Nicklas Kulti (SWE) W 7-6(6), 6-3 S Cedric Pioline (FRA) W 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 W Magnus Gustafsson (SWE) W 6-1, 6-4
jaccol55 - 31-07-2009 15:02:44
Rok 1994
#22 Sydney: R32 Jonas Svensson (SWE) W 6-4, 6-2 R16 Jason Stoltenberg (AUS) W 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 Q Aaron Krickstein (USA) W 6-1, 6-3 S Petr Korda (CZE) W 6-3, 6-3 W Ivan Lendl (USA) W 7-6(5), 6-4
#23 Australian Open: R128 Joshua Eagle (AUS) W 6-4, 6-0, 7-6(5) R64 Yevgeny Kafelnikov (RUS) W 6-3, 2-6, 6-3, 1-6, 9-7 R32 Stephane Simian (FRA) W 7-5, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 R16 Ivan Lendl (USA) W 7-6(5), 6-2, 7-6(4) Q Magnus Gustafsson (SWE) W 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) S Jim Courier (USA) W 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 W Todd Martin (USA) W 7-6(4), 6-4, 6-4
#24 TMS Indian Wells: R64 Bye R32 Emilio Sanchez (ESP) W 6-1, 6-1 R16 MaliVai Washington (USA) W 7-5, 6-2 Q Thomas Muster (AUT) W 6-3, 6-2 S Stefan Edberg (SWE) W 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 W Petr Korda (CZE) W 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
#25 TMS Miami: R128 Bye R64 Diego Nargiso (ITA) W 6-2, 6-2 R32 David Wheaton (USA) W 6-0, 5-7, 6-1 R16 Mark Woodforde (AUS) W 6-2, 6-2 Q Petr Korda (CZE) W 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 S Jim Courier (USA) W 6-4, 7-6(10) W Andre Agassi (USA) W 5-7, 6-3, 6-3
#26 Osaka: R32 Stephane Simian (FRA) W 7-5, 6-3 R16 Jeff Tarango (USA) W 7-6(2), 7-6(4) Q Guillaume Raoux (FRA) W 6-3, 6-3 S Andre Agassi (USA) W 6-3, 6-1 W Lionel Roux (FRA) W 6-2, 6-2
#27 Tokio: R64 Bye R32 Andrei Olhovskiy (RUS) W 6-3, 7-6(5) R16 Tim Henman (GBR) W 6-1, 6-2 Q Patrick Rafter (AUS) W 6-1, 5-7, 6-1 S Henrik Holm (SWE) W 6-2, 6-1 W Michael Chang (USA) W 6-4, 6-2
#28 TMS Rzym: R64 Aaron Krickstein (USA) W 6-1, 7-6(2) R32 Alex Corretja (ESP) W 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 R16 Andrei Chesnokov (RUS) W 7-6(8), 6-3 Q Andrea Gaudenzi (ITA) W 6-3, 7-5 S Slava Dosedel (CZE) W 6-1, 6-2 W Boris Becker (GER) W 6-1, 6-2, 6-2
#29 Wimbledon: R128 Jared Palmer (USA) W 7-6(4), 7-5, 6-3 R64 Richey Reneberg (USA) W 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 R32 Chuck Adams (USA) W 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 R16 Daniel Vacek (CZE) W 6-4, 6-1, 7-6(5) Q Michael Chang (USA) W 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 S Todd Martin (USA) W 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 W Goran Ivanisevic (CRO) W 7-6(2), 7-6(5), 6-0
#30 Antwerpia R32 Johan Van Herck (BEL) W 7-6(2), 6-4 R16 Richey Reneberg (USA) W 6-3, 6-3 Q Byron Black (ZIM) W 6-1, 6-3 S Jared Palmer (USA) W 7-5, 6-3 W Magnus Larsson (SWE) W 7-6(5), 6-4
#31 ATP Tour World Championship, Frankfurt: RR Boris Becker (GER) L 5-7, 5-7 RR Stefan Edberg (SWE) W 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(3) RR Goran Ivanisevic (CRO) W 6-3, 6-4 S Andre Agassi (USA) W 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 W Boris Becker (GER) W 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4
jaccol55 - 31-07-2009 16:42:33
Rok 1995
#32 TMS Indian Wells: R64 Bye R32 Jonas Bjorkman (SWE) W 6-3, 7-6(5) R16 Patrick Rafter (AUS) W 6-4, 6-7(8), 6-1 Q Todd Martin (USA) W 6-3, 6-4 S Stefan Edberg (SWE) W 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 W Andre Agassi (USA) W 7-5, 6-3, 7-5
#33 Queen's Club: R64 Bye R32 Jonathan Stark (USA) W 7-6(4), 6-3 R16 Jeremy Bates (GBR) W 6-3, 7-5 Q Sandon Stolle (AUS) W 6-2, 6-3 S Marc-Kevin Goellner (GER) W 6-7(4), 6-2, 13-11 W Guy Forget (FRA) W 7-6(3), 7-6(6)
#34 Wimbledon: R128 Karsten Braasch (GER) W 7-6(4), 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-1 R64 Tim Henman (GBR) W 6-2, 6-3, 7-6(3) R32 Jared Palmer (USA) W 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 R16 Greg Rusedski (GBR) W 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 Q Shuzo Matsuoka (JPN) W 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 S Goran Ivanisevic (CRO) W 7-6(7), 4-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 W Boris Becker (GER) W 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4, 6-2
#35 US Open: R128 Fernando Meligeni (BRA) W 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 R64 Jaime Yzaga (PER) W 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 R32 Mark Philippoussis (AUS) W 6-7(5), 7-5, 7-5, 6-3 R16 Todd Martin (USA) W 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-4 Q Byron Black (ZIM) W 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-0 S Jim Courier (USA) W 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 W Andre Agassi (USA) W 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
#36 TMS Paryż: R64 Bye R32 Arnaud Boetsch (FRA) W 6-3, 6-4 R16 Jan Siemerink (NED) W 6-3, 6-4 Q Jakob Hlasek (SUI) W 6-2, 6-3 S Jim Courier (USA) W 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 W Boris Becker (GER) W 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-4
jaccol55 - 31-07-2009 16:55:31
Rok 1996
#37 San Jose: R32 Tommy Ho (USA) W 6-4, 6-3 R16 Nuno Marques (POR) W 6-1, 6-3 Q Greg Rusedski (GBR) W 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 S Jan Kroslak (SVK) W 7-6(6), 6-3 W Andre Agassi (USA) W 6-2, 6-3
#38 Memphis: R64 Bye R32 Richey Reneberg (USA) W 6-3, 7-6(4) R16 Greg Rusedski (GBR) W 7-6(7), 7-6(1) Q Mark Woodforde (AUS) W 6-4, 7-6(7) S Michael Chang (USA) W 6-3, 6-2 W Todd Martin (USA) W 6-4, 7-6(2)
$39 Honk Kong: R32 Sebastien Lareau (CAN) W 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 R16 Patrick Rafter (AUS) W 6-3, 7-6(1) Q David Prinosil (GER) W 6-7(2), 7-6(3), 6-3 S Jan Siemerink (NED) W 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(2) W Michael Chang (USA) W 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
#40 Tokio: R64 Bye R32 Lionel Roux (FRA) W 6-3, 6-2 R16 Magnus Norman (SWE) W 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 Q Guy Forget (FRA) W 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 S Mark Woodforde (AUS) W 7-6(5), 6-4 W Richey Reneberg (USA) W 6-4, 7-5
#41 Indianapolis: R64 Bye R32 Donald Johnson (USA) W 7-6(3), 6-7(8), 6-2 R16 Marcos Ondruska (RSA) W 6-1, 6-2 Q Tommy Haas (GER) W 6-3, 6-4 S Bohdan Ulihrach (CZE) W 6-1, 6-4 W Goran Ivanisevic (CRO) W 7-6(3), 7-5
#42 US Open: R128 Jimy Szymanski (VEN) W 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 R64 Jiri Novak (CZE) W 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 R32 Alexander Volkov (RUS) W 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 R16 Mark Philippoussis (AUS) W 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 Q Alex Corretja (ESP) W 7-6(5), 5-7, 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(7) S Goran Ivanisevic (CRO) W 6-3, 6-4, 6-7(9), 6-3 W Michael Chang (USA) W 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(3)
#43 Bazylea: R32 Alex Radulescu (GER) W 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 R16 Tommy Haas (GER) W 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 Q Mikael Tillstrom (SWE) W 6-3, 6-4 S Yevgeny Kafelnikov (RUS) W 7-6(4), 6-3 W Hendrik Dreekmann (GER) W 7-5, 6-2, 6-0
#44 ATP Tour World Championship, Hanover: RR Andre Agassi (USA) W 6-2, 6-1 Stats RR Boris Becker (GER) L 6-7(10), 6-7(4) RR Yevgeny Kafelnikov (RUS) W 6-4, 6-4 S Goran Ivanisevic (CRO) W 6-7(6), 7-6(4), 7-5 W Boris Becker (GER) W 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(4), 6-7(11), 6-4
jaccol55 - 31-07-2009 18:15:27
Rok 1997
#45 Australian Open: R128 Dinu Pescariu (ROU) W 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 R64 Adrian Voinea (ROU) W 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 R32 Mark Woodforde (AUS) W 6-1, 6-0, 6-1 R16 Dominik Hrbaty (SVK) W 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 Q Albert Costa (ESP) W 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 S Thomas Muster (AUT) W 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-3 W Carlos Moya (ESP) W 6-2, 6-3, 6-3
#46 San Jose: R32 Alex Radulescu (GER) W 7-6(3), 6-3 R16 Justin Gimelstob (USA) W 6-2, 6-3 Q Chris Woodruff (USA) W 6-2, 6-3 S Todd Martin (USA) W 6-2, 6-3 W Greg Rusedski (GBR) W 3-6, 5-0 RET
#47 Philadelphia: R32 Marcelo Filippini (URU) W 6-4, 6-1 R16 Jonas Bjorkman (SWE) W 7-5, 7-6(2) Q Doug Flach (USA) W 6-4, 6-2 S Sjeng Schalken (NED) W 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 W Patrick Rafter (AUS) W 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-3
#48 Wimbledon: R128 Mikael Tillstrom (SWE) W 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 R64 Hendrik Dreekmann (GER) W 7-6(2), 7-5, 7-5 R32 Byron Black (ZIM) W 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 R16 Petr Korda (CZE) W 6-4, 6-3, 6-7(8), 6-7(1), 6-4 Q Boris Becker (GER) W 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-4 S Todd Woodbridge (AUS) W 6-2, 6-1, 7-6(3) W Cedric Pioline (FRA) W 6-4, 6-2, 6-4
#49 TMS Cincinnati: R64 Bye R32 Justin Gimelstob (USA) W 6-2, 6-4 R16 Patrick Rafter (AUS) W 7-6(4), 6-4 Q Yevgeny Kafelnikov (RUS) W 6-2, 6-2 S Albert Costa (ESP) W 6-3, 6-4 W Thomas Muster (AUT) W 6-3, 6-4
$50 Grand Slam Cup: R16 Felix Mantilla (ESP) W 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 Q Jonas Bjorkman (SWE) W 7-6, 6-4 S Greg Rusedski (GBR) W 3-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-2 W Patrick Rafter (AUS) W 6-2, 6-4, 7-5
#51 TMS Paryż: R64 Bye R32 Boris Becker (GER) W 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-3 R16 Petr Korda (CZE) W 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 Q Thomas Muster (AUT) W 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 S Yevgeny Kafelnikov (RUS) W 7-6(2), 6-3 W Jonas Bjorkman (SWE) W 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
#52 Tour World Championship, Hanover: RR Carlos Moya (ESP) L 3-6, 7-6(4), 2-6 RR Greg Rusedski (GBR) W 6-4, 7-5 RR Patrick Rafter (AUS) W 6-4, 6-1 S S Jonas Bjorkman (SWE) W 6-3, 6-4 W Yevgeny Kafelnikov (RUS) W 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
jaccol55 - 01-08-2009 21:31:03
Rok 1998
#53 Philadelphia: R32 Xavier Malisse (BEL) W 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 R16 Andrea Gaudenzi (ITA) W 7-6(6), 6-3 Q Sjeng Schalken (NED) W 6-2, 6-2 S Tommy Haas (GER) W 6-4, 6-4 W Thomas Enqvist (SWE) W 7-5, 7-6(3)
#54 Atlanta: R32 Alex O'Brien (USA) W 6-2, 7-6(5) R16 Davide Sanguinetti (ITA) W 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 Q Ramon Delgado (PAR) W 7-6(6), 7-6(3) S Alex Calatrava (ESP) W 7-6(6), 6-3 W Jason Stoltenberg (AUS) W 6-7(2), 6-3, 7-6(4)
#55 Wimbledon: R128 Dominik Hrbaty (SVK) W 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 R64 Mikael Tillstrom (SWE) W 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(4) R32 Thomas Enqvist (SWE) W 6-3, 7-6(4), 7-6(3) R16 Sebastien Grosjean (FRA) W 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 Q Mark Philippoussis (AUS) W 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-4 S Tim Henman (GBR) W 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 W Goran Ivanisevic (CRO) W 6-7(2), 7-6(9), 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
#56 Wiedeń: R32 Jan Kroslak (SVK) W 6-2, 7-5 R16 Jeff Tarango (USA) W 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 Q Tim Henman (GBR) W 6-0, 6-3 S Todd Martin (USA) W 6-3, 7-6(4) W Karol Kucera (SVK) W 6-3, 7-6(3), 6-1
jaccol55 - 01-08-2009 21:37:22
Rok 1999
#57 Queen's Club: R64 Bye R32 Todd Woodbridge (AUS) W 6-4, 6-7(8), 6-4 R16 Wayne Arthurs (AUS) W 7-5, 6-3 Q Goran Ivanisevic (CRO) W 7-5, 6-4 S Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) W 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) W Tim Henman (GBR) W 6-7(1), 6-4, 7-6(4)
#58 Wimbledon: R128 Scott Draper (AUS) W 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 R64 Sebastien Lareau (CAN) W 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 R32 Danny Sapsford (GBR) W 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 R16 Daniel Nestor (CAN) W 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 Q Mark Philippoussis (AUS) W 4-6, 2-1 RET S Tim Henman (GBR) W 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 W Andre Agassi (USA) W 6-3, 6-4, 7-5
#59 Los Angeles: R32 Phillip King (USA) W 6-1, 6-2 R16 Sebastien Lareau (CAN) W 7-6(5), 6-3 Q Wayne Ferreira (RSA) W 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 S James Sekulov (AUS) W 6-0, 6-2 W Andre Agassi (USA) W 7-6(3), 7-6(1)
#60 TMS Cincinnati: R64 Bye R32 Jan Siemerink (NED) W 7-6(9), 6-4 R16 Rainer Schuettler (GER) W 7-5, 7-6(2) Q Richard Krajicek (NED) W 6-4, 6-2 S Andre Agassi (USA) W 7-6(7), 6-4 W Patrick Rafter (AUS) W 7-6(7), 6-3
#61 ATP Tour World Championship, Hanover: RR Gustavo Kuerten (BRA) W 6-2, 6-3 RR Andre Agassi (USA) L 2-6, 2-6 RR Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) W 7-6(2), 7-6(5) S Nicolas Kiefer (GER) W 6-3, 6-3 W Andre Agassi (USA) W 6-1, 7-5, 6-4
jaccol55 - 01-08-2009 21:44:00
Rok 2000
#62 TMS Miami: R128 Bye R64 Carlos Moya (ESP) W 6-1, 6-4 R32 Andreas Vinciguerra (SWE) W 5-7, 7-6(3), 6-4 R16 Greg Rusedski (GBR) W 6-3, 6-3 Q Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) W 6-4, 7-6(3) S Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) W 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 W Gustavo Kuerten (BRA) W 6-1, 6-7(2), 7-6(5), 7-6(8)
#63 Wimbledon: R128 Jiri Vanek (CZE) W 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 R64 Karol Kucera (SVK) W 7-6(9), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 R32 Justin Gimelstob (USA) W 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 R16 Jonas Bjorkman (SWE) W 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 Q Jan-Michael Gambill (USA) W 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4 S Vladimir Voltchkov (BLR) W 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-4 W Patrick Rafter (AUS) W 6-7(10), 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-2
jaccol55 - 01-08-2009 21:54:19
Rok 2002
#64 US Open: R128 Albert Portas (ESP) W 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 R64 Kristian Pless (DEN) W 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 R32 Greg Rusedski (GBR) W 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-4 R16 Tommy Haas (GER) W 7-5, 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-5 Q Andy Roddick (USA) W 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 S Sjeng Schalken (NED) W 7-6(6), 7-6(4), 6-2 W Andre Agassi (USA) W 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
The story behind the picture: Pete Sampras, June 26, 2002 In our new weekly series, a Times photographer reveals the events and atmosphere surrounding their most memorable photograph Letter written to Peter Sampras by his pregnant wife Bridgette, 2002.
It was breakpoint on No 2 court at Wimbledon and Pete Sampras was midway through one of the worst matches of his career — a second-round defeat by Switzerland’s George Bastl. Positioned in the seats behind, I saw Sampras pull out and read a note. Even before I knew the content, it seemed incongruous.
Normally all that the players have on the court is water and bananas — and rarely does Sampras show signs of emotion and weakness. I was so intrigued that I switched lenses and trained my Nikon 300mm on the white paper. It was only when I could read the first sentence that I realised what it was. The lettering was girly and the opening words were: “To my husband.” I felt I was intruding on an extremely intimate moment. But it showed the human side of sport, and the vulnerabilities of a sporting legend. I was in the one seat from which it was possible to capture the words. I had an exclusive.
There were moral questions. I used a telephoto lens — how intrusive was it? Is Wimbledon, with all its spectators, TV cameras and journalists, a private place? Did we need permission? I left it to my editors to decide. The next day the note appeared on the front page, but with just the first line visible. The Editor told me that he’d spent the afternoon agonising over its use. Three months later, at the US Open, Sampras met Neil Harman, the Times’ tennis correspondent, and thanked him for the paper not disclosing the letter’s contents. Neil asked: “What if you won the Open, Pete, would we be OK to use it then?” “Yeah, that would be cool,” he said.
Ten days and six victims later, as Sampras gained his 14th grand slam, we published the letter in full.
DUN I LOVE - 26-11-2009 22:00:58
Dokładnie 11 lat temu Pete Sampras zapewnił sobie po raz 6 z rzędu miano najlepszego gracza sezonu ATP.
1998 – Pete Sampras clinches the year-end No. 1 ATP Tour world ranking for a sixth straight year, breaking the record he shares with Jimmy Connors, who finishes five straight years as the No. 1 player from 1974-1978. Sampras clinches the No. 1 ranking when his challenger, world No. 2 Marcelo Rios of Chile, withdraws with a back injury from round robin play at the ATP Tour World Championships in Hannover, Germany and Sampras finishes with a perfect 3-0 record with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Karol Kucera of Slovakia. Says Sampras, “It's an ultimate achievement. It will probably never be broken. I'm trying to stay humble through all this, but the record speaks for itself. It's a little overwhelming."
Serenity - 11-02-2010 10:08:24
Bored Sampras scratching around for coaching gig
Expensive Pete Sampras may have priced himself out of the market for coaching with the USTA as the former great scratches around for some activity to fill the increasing boredom of his never-ending retirement days.
The 38-year-old millionaire has been out of the game since quitting with a then-record 14 Grand Slam titles after winning the US Open in 2002 over longtime rival Andre Agassi.
Since then, the joys of daily golf and holidays on demand seem to have worn thin for the one-time action man, now a home-lover.
Sampras has even dipped his toes occasionally into senior play and participated in a losing exhibition match this week in San Jose against Spain's Fernando Verdasco. His trip to Wimbledon last summer as Roger Federer broke his all-time Grand Slam record seemed a lot like hard work for the American.
But it's coaching with the federation that now seems to have captured the Sampras interest.
However, his undisclosed price is reportedly too rich for the cash-flush body which oversees the game in the US. American reports indicate that director of development Patrick McEnroe - he doubles up as Davis Cup coach - is playing it cool in negotiations.
"I have time on my hands," said father-of-two Sampras who earned 43 million dollars in career prize money. "If USTA wants to step up, I'll make a champion.
"These young guys are still green and I see so many things in their attitudes and games that need changing. I'm available for services."
Perhaps the dream job for the Beverly Hills-based Sampras would be working at the federation's West coast training centre along with former Davis Cup Captain Tom Gullikson, and two-time US Open champion Tracy Austin.
Mieszkanie w bloku to to nie jest, ale pomieszkać można. ;)
Raddcik - 27-08-2010 12:02:22
The Making Of A Champion DEUCE
The start of a classic rivalry and a life-changing moment: Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi wait for the presentation ceremony after the 1990 US Open final.
Twenty years ago, at 19 years and 28 days, Pete Sampras went from anonymity to global superstar after he became the youngest US Open champion in history. The legendary American, his allies and rivals, reflect on the first of his 14 major titles.
Shy and impressionable, 18-year-old Pete Sampras arrived at the house of World No. 1 Ivan Lendl in Greenwich, Connecticut, in November 1989. He had replaced high school with tennis' nomadic life in the single-minded pursuit of becoming a great champion when he turned pro in Philadelphia 20 months earlier. As a natural talent, with an attacking style that was so fluent, even artistic, as to make the game appear easy, his game was in complete contrast to that of Lendl.
Lendl worked for everything. On the court, he dominated his opponents from the baseline until they buckled. Off the court, he lived the American dream, retiring to his 15,000-square-foot house behind six-foot high fencing and protected by two alarm systems. It was at this house Lendl invited Sampras for 10 days, prior to competing at the Nabisco Masters in Madison Square Garden, New York City.
Lendl 1989"Ivan wanted to see me play, so he gave me a call and invited me to his house, which was an eye-opener," recalls Sampras. "It was huge. Ivan and his wife, Samantha, made me feel welcome and comfortable.
"He soon had me biking 20 to 25 miles a day. And we spoke about my tennis, how hard you have to work if you want to make it to the top. I learnt a lot about how a top professional trained and how he looked after himself."
Lendl, who will compete for the first time on the ATP Champions Tour at Paris in October, remembers, "He stayed for about 10 days and observed everything. I could tell Pete was a huge talent, but [he] was still young and was still developing his game. Even the serve was still unrefined. I did not predict he would go on and win 14 majors."
Sampras had sampled the disciplined lifestyle and immediately returned to Bradenton, Florida, to re-join his friend Jim Courier at the IMG-Bollettieri Tennis Academy, where he was living, and where he would start to bulk up his muscles and develop his game as an instigator, which he had showcased in beating defending champion Mats Wilander at the US Open.
Throughout the 1989 season, Sampras had toured the world with his brother and financial advisor, Gus. His father, Soterios, an engineer, accompanied them to four European tournaments, but Pete barely won a match and he thought he brought his son "bad luck".
In late July, having lost to his junior rival Michael Chang at Stratton Mountain, Sampras was introduced to Joe Brandi, an experienced Puerta Rican coach - working at the tennis academy Nick Bollettieri established in 1978 - by Sergio Cruz, who was working with Jim Courier.
Brandi, the father of former Sony Ericsson WTA Tour player Kristina Brandi, who now lives in Buenos Aires, remembers, "Later in the year Cruz, who was one of the most prolific coaches at the time, had to go to Spain to coach junior players. So when Pete came to train at the academy for six weeks in November, I was charged with helping him.
"Pete was a great human being, a delightful young man, who loved the sport and loved to work."
Bollettieri AcademyAccompanied by Courier, Sampras set out at six o'clock each morning for a 45-minute run. Upon their return they would play tennis for up to six hours, take a lunch-break and then weight lift, undertake sprints and conditioning work into the evening.
With instant recall, Brandi says, "Pete had tremendous potential, but had never worked on his conditioning, which was as bad as his shot selection. If you're not fit at this level, you won’t win anything let alone a trophy.
"We worked together on his balance, [his] return of serve, first volley and slice backhand. Pete Fischer [one of Sampras' childhood coaches] had changed his double-handed backhand to a single-hander and he was still feeling his way. He hit his backhand like Ilie Nastase did, leaning on the back foot but Pete's running forehand was, and I believe still is, the greatest shot of all time. His first and second serves were very good."
Bollettieri remembers Sampras' time at the academy. "Joe Brandi was a no-nonsense coach who knew only one way to train: hit thousands of balls and get into the best shape of your life," the 79 year old says. "When Pete's physical condition improved, so did his movement, which then effected his shot selection including not going for quick winners.
"Pete Sampras was not only a hard worker but his work ethics were performed in the same manner, he did everything [and] showed no emotion."
Sampras started the 1990 season, ranked World No. 81. Having spent Christmas with his family, he travelled to Australia by himself, reaching the Sydney quarter-finals and Australian Open fourth round. "Upon his return to the States he called me to request my services full-time," says Brandi.
In only their second tournament together, at the Ebel Pro Indoor in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a nerve-free Sampras beat No. 6-ranked Andre Agassi and No 8-ranked Tim Mayotte en route to his first ATP final. He went on to outclass Andres Gomez 7-6(5), 7-5, 6-2, picked up the biggest pay cheque of his fledgling career, $135,000, and celebrated his first title with 18 holes of golf in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Twenty years on, Sampras confesses, "At the start of the 1990 season, having beaten a couple of top players, I felt as if I might get myself into contention for the big tournaments and majors. I'd been progressing a little better, picked up the Philadelphia title and was feeling more comfortable in the shots I was hitting."
He lifted the Manchester trophy pre-Wimbledon, then built up steam during the summer hard-court swing, reaching semi-finals in Toronto (l. to Chang) and Los Angeles (l. to Edberg), and quarter-finals in Indianapolis (l. to Reneberg) and Long Island (l. to Ivanisevic).
"For me, Pete got his big, big mental breakthrough at Toronto when he beat John McEnroe for the first time in the quarter-finals," said Brandi. "He had excellent results during the US swing and came to the US Open having played a lot of matches. During the US Open he was in the zone for two weeks, but no way was he prepared to win the title!"
In 1990, Flushing Meadow earned the nickname 'Flushing Mellow', when tennis-mad Mayor David Dinkins prevailed upon the air-traffic controllers at nearby LaGuardia Airport to redirect the deafening flights of runway 13, away from the National Tennis Center. It meant an aviation-free fortnight, rather than the final-weekend deference the Federal Aviation Administration had shown in previous years. It also went some way to persuade US Open officials to keep the event in Queens after the lease expired in 1994.
Sampras, always an anti-entourage player, booked himself into the Parker Meridien hotel in New York City with his coach, Brandi. At that time, he had four Top 10 wins and two titles in 45 tournaments to his name.
Named No. 12 seed, Sampras remembers, "I arrived at the US Open as an outsider. No one realistically thought I would have a chance to go really deep in the draw, let alone win it. I think the experts figured I wouldn't play that well and that I was going to roll over."
Sampras rolled through his first three matches without the loss of a set, against Dan Goldie, Peter Lundgren, Jakob Hlasek. Through to the Last 16, Sampras played down his title chances. "Maybe in a couple of years, but I don't think it's realistic right now." He went on to overcome an upset stomach to beat World No. 6 Thomas Muster, who had made a miraculous return after a drunk driver severed ligaments in his left leg in March 1989.
In the quarter-finals he met his mentor, World No. 3 Lendl, a hard-court powerhouse and three-time US Open champion. "Ivan was looking to reach the US Open final for the ninth straight year, but my game matched up well with his and he was slowing down," says Sampras, who had greater power and proved more resourceful.
Brandi reveals, "Lendl was his most difficult match. Pete won the first two sets, but found himself at 1-5 down in the fourth set. I remember saying to a friend alongside me, 'If he doesn’t win at least two games in this set he will be in trouble come the decider.'"
Lendl, who had compiled an outstanding 55-5 record at Flushing Meadows since 1982, confesses, "When I came back from 2-0 down in sets to 2-2, I thought I would win - but Pete kept serving great and was able to adjust the rest of his game. That was the first time I thought he could win a good number of majors."
Lendl won the fourth set 6-4, but Sampras broke early in the fifth set and eventually won 6-4, 7-6(4), 3-6, 4-6, 6-2. "I was not happy losing," says Lendl, who would eventually retire due to chronic back pain in 1994 having won eight majors from 19 finals. "At the time, I felt he was always going to stand or fall with his serve."
Next up was McEnroe, a four-time former titlist, enjoying a sublime run at 31 years of age, under the guidance of his old coach Tony Palafox. Ranked World No. 21, he was unseeded for the first time in 13 years.
"I got very nervous beforehand, but I settled early [breaking serve in the fourth game for a 3-1 lead]," admits Sampras, whose serve-volley game, 17 aces and innumerable down-the-line passing shots, proved too much for the New Yorker, who at the time Brandi believed, "was annoyed the game had changed and that the younger kids were overpowering him."
Twenty five miles west of Los Angeles, his mother, Georgia, and father, were both oblivious to his fate. Too nervous to watch the match live, they were taking-in a movie, Presumed Innocent, starring Harrison Ford, at a nearby cinema.
"Because of Super Saturday, I played the night match," says Sampras, "I then showered, did press, went to sleep and did not have time to think too much about the final and the enormity of the situation I was in."
The reality was that Sampras was one-part of the first all-American US Open final since 1979, when McEnroe beat his good friend Vitas Gerulaitis. He would face Las Vegan Andre Agassi, the World No. 4, who had finished runner-up to Gomez at Roland Garros in June. It was the third meeting of their senior careers; their fifth, including junior matches.
It had been 10 years since Sampras first met an equally-small 10-year-old Agassi, at a tournament in Northridge, California. Agassi beat him easily. "He toyed with me for about two hours," says Sampras. This time, Agassi was made to suffer.
Brandi remembers the build-up to the first of Sampras' 18 major finals. "Pete made sure he didn't leave his best tennis on the practise court. He was very relaxed. Correction…completely relaxed, ahead of the final against Agassi.
"I told him the game plan to keep the points short, attack Agassi up the court and keep any stroke to his backhand short. With Andre's double-handed backhand it would make it difficult for him to pick the ball up. Pete also served wide on the deuce court, meaning Andre couldn't run around his shots, and he also attacked every second serve."
As Agassi and Sampras made the 100-yard walk from the locker room to the Louis Armstrong Stadium Court, surrounded by terse security guards, both were in a confident mood. Sampras, the classic serve-volleyer, wore all-white; Agassi, who, the day before, had beaten defending champion Boris Becker in the noon-time sun, was the pre-match favourite. The best returner since Connors wore day-glow yellow spandex shorts.
"Andre was clearly the more established player, who had already made a name for himself," says Sampras. "So I didn't really feel the pressure."
Sampras hit 13 aces – many clocking close to 125 miles per hour – and lost only 17 points in his first 13 service games. Agassi would mutter, "Why are you so slow?" between points. Sampras would notch his 100th ace of the championship to hold serve for a 5-2 lead in the third set. "Andre looked tentative and didn't play as well as he could," admits Sampras. "He wasn't being the aggressor from the baseline; he let me dictate the points. He hit the ball very short and I took advantage of that."
Agassi soon ended his agony by hitting a forehand into the net to give Sampras a 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 win in one-hour and 42 minutes, a cheque for $350,000, a place in the Top 10 and the record books as the youngest US Open champion at 19 years and 28 days – beating 1890 title-holder Oliver Campbell, a student at Columbia University, by five months.
Agassi later admitted, "Anything he touched turned to gold out there. This was a good old-fashioned street mugging. That's all it was." With his tail between his legs, he would immediately set about strengthening his physique as well as his serve in order to prove "that the Open was just one day in New York."
Bollettieri, AgassiTwenty years on, Bollettieri confirms, "Andre's loss was a huge disappointment. His father said Andre would have to improve his serve. I knew he was suffering in so many ways because he was a very sensitive person. If I had to select one reason why Pete beat Andre it would be: Pete’s serve! If pushed to give another reason it would be that Andre was the favourite and did not hold up to the pressure."
For Sampras, who had not been bred to become a superstar, it was the start of a different life. His parents were soon forced to call Pacific Bell to change their phone number and also buy a new answering machine when it broke.
"I hadn't gone to college, so socially I hadn't had the experience of mixing with a variety of people," says Sampras. "As a junior, I had only played tournaments in the States, such as the Orange Bowl and the 1987 US Open. By winning, I went from one extreme to another… going from anonymity to being recognised around the world, talking on the Johnny Carson Show. It was like growing pains. It was tough and I wasn't quite ready for it."
In a now classic tale, Sampras' parents, who had not watched their son play more than five times during his lifetime, had been cruising around a Long Beach shopping mall.
Georgia Sampras first saw her son had won when she went up an escalator at a shopping mall and watched as Pete shook hands with Agassi. Even then, she wanted confirmation from a guy who had watched the drama unfold on CBS Sports. Soterios got the idea something good had happened when his wife ran out of the shop and kissed him.
They quickly drove home and opened up two bottles of champagne to celebrate with their children Gus, Stella and Marion. After walking off the court, Sampras found the time to speak to his family in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. It was a moment to savour with his greatest supporters.
Sampras celebrated the biggest win of his 30-month pro career by taking a light dinner with Brandi and his agent at that time, Ivan Blumberg. "We then went back to his mini suite and sat and talked all night about tennis and life," recalls Brandi. "I told him his life would change. He didn't believe me at all. At the time, I predicted he would win 5-9 majors. I was way off the mark."
Sampras woke early to appear on all three network morning shows. By noon he was on a plane to Los Angeles. The first of a series of exhibitions beckoned later that week. He struggled with shin splints through the end of the year, but earned a cool $2 million for winning the Grand Slam Cup (d. Gilbert) in December to finish as World No. 5 – an improvement of 76 places in 12 months.
"I did get locker room respect, but I wasn't totally aware of it," Sampras remembers. "Everyone was nicer and friendlier, but I was largely unaware of the other players' feelings, although whenever I turned up at tournaments it always felt as if I had a huge bull's eye on my chest.
"It took me two or three years to tighten up my game and the same period to get used to being comfortable with being a superstar. I wasn't quite there to be a consistent major contender and it took some time to build my defensive game."
Sampras would again reach the US Open final in 1992, but after a sleepless night fighting stomach flu, he lost to defending champion Stefan Edberg 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-2.
Undeterred, he kept working hard and always remained true to himself and his upbringing in the pursuit of multiple Grand Slam championship titles. He would eventually win 14 — two Australian Opens, seven Wimbledons and five US Opens — and finish year-end World No. 1 for a record six straight years (1993-1998).
"His parents must be really proud as to how he turned out," says Brandi, who parted company with Sampras in November 1991, to return to his role as a father to two young children. "I admire him a lot. He never gave excuses when he lost and is a great champion, perhaps the greatest of all time."
His last professional match was in the 2002 US Open final against Agassi. Watched by his actress-wife, Bridgette, Sampras proved his critics wrong by winning 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 to provide the perfect bookend to a career that will be forever linked with the US Open.
W poście powyżej, kilka miesięcy temu pojawił się magazyn DUECE z Samprasem. Odświeżam wątek, jako że mógł umknąć w zgiełku przed USO. :-)
jaccol55 - 08-12-2010 14:02:47
Sampras okradziony z trofeów
Pete Sampras w wyniku rabunku stracił większość trofeów wywalczonych podczas kariery, która uczyniła go najwybitniejszym tenisistą Ery Otwartej. Amerykaninowi skradziono m.in. pierwszy puchar za zwycięstwo w Australian Open.
Z publicznej przechowalni w Los Angeles zniknęło (Sampras zauważył to trzy tygodnie temu) także: wszystkie sześć nagród dla najlepszego zawodnika sezonu, pięć za zwycięstwa w Masters, dwie za wygrany Puchar Davisa czy w końcu medal olimpijski.
Sampras nie przechowywał w tym samym miejscu wszystkich trofeów wielkoszlemowych. - Mam 13 z 14, które wywalczyłem. Niektóre trzymam w domu, inne w NikeTown w Portland - cytuje go "Los Angeles Times".
Z dwóch przedziałów przechowalni nie zniknęły tylko wielkie meble, składowane tam razem z innymi sprzętami (m.in. gitarą podpisaną przez Carlosa Santanę) po przeprowadzce rodziny Samprasów do Brentwood w zachodnim Los Angeles. - Myślałem, że mają tam kamery. Nigdy nie sądziłem, że te rzeczy będą w niebezpieczeństwie. Byłem w szoku - powiedział.
39-letni Sampras upublicznił informację za namową policji, która nie ma żadnych śladów w dochodzeniu. - To tak jakby zabrali mi historię mojego tenisowego życia - powiedział ex lider rankingu ATP.
Mam nadzieję, że ta historia będzie miała szczęśliwy finał i skradzione trofea wrócą na należne im miejsce. Swoją drogą to sam nie wiem, gdzie bym tyle zdobyczy przechowywał, będąc na miejscu Pet'a.
Art - 09-12-2010 12:05:55
Sampras' Trophy Collection Stolen
A treasure trove of memorabilia from Pete Sampras’ glittering career has been stolen from a West Los Angeles public storage facility, including his first Australian Open trophy and hardware for finishing as the year-end ATP World Tour No. 1 between 1993-98.
Sampras, 39, discovered the theft three weeks ago and recently made the news public with the hopes of recovering his possessions.
"For me to have it for my kids is priceless,” Sampras, the father of two boys aged 5 and 8, told the Los Angeles Times. “I just hope it hasn't already been destroyed. That's why I wanted to get the word out now. I know this is a long shot, but I'd regret it if I didn't at least try. Maybe somebody knows something. That's all I can hope for."
Sampras had placed the boxes of memorabilia in storage as he and his family moved between homes in Southern California, and never considered that the items would be taken.
"I was like, 'What?'" he said. "I thought there were security cameras. I thought these things were locked up tight. I was shocked."
While 13 of Sampras’ 14 Grand Slam trophies are accounted for, secure in his home and at NikeTown in Portland, the majority of his collection – trophies from his 64 title wins, two Davis Cups, an Olympic ring, magazine covers and newspaper clippings – are now missing.
"Losing this stuff is like having the history of my tennis life taken away,” he said.
LONDON (AP)—The president of the International Tennis Federation has offered Pete Sampras a replica trophy for his two Davis Cup wins following the theft of much of his tennis memorabilia.
Sampras, who won 14 Grand Slam titles, says most of his trophies and other memorabilia were stolen last month from a public storage facility in Los Angeles.
ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti says “we were sorry to learn of the theft of so many of Pete Sampras’ trophies. We know how special a Davis Cup victory is for a player, and if he is unable to recover the loss of his two Davis Cup trophies, we would like to offer him a replica trophy in recognition of his outstanding record in the event.”
SAMPRAS FELT 'VIOLATED' AFTER THEFT OF TROPHIES & MEMORABILIA
None of Sampras' seven Wimbledon trophies was among the items stolen, but his 1994 Australian Open trophy was.
Pete Sampras says that he felt ‘violated’ after learning that thieves had stolen more than 80 of his trophies and priceless memorabilia. Speaking exclusively to ATPWorldTour.com, Sampras added that his decision to go public with news of the theft was a ‘long shot’ attempt to generate a tip from the public that would lead to the memorabilia’s return.
“I’ve done all I can do,” Sampras said. “It will take a little bit of luck and good fortune. It’s probable that it’s been destroyed by now, but it doesn’t hurt to make it public. If the stuff was found it would be fantastic. It’s a long shot but I thought by getting the word out that it may lead to a tip that results in the stuff being recovered.”
Transitioning between houses, Sampras put the majority of his hardware and memorabilia in a West Los Angeles public storage facility about three months ago. But his storage pod and one other were burglarized about three weeks ago. Inside were trophies from 51 of his 64 tournament title runs, 24 runners-up trophies, six year-end No. 1 trophies and other priceless memorabilia.
Since the robbery, Sampras says he’s emotions have run the gamut. “At first I was more angry thinking about some kids stealing my stuff and then I felt violated. Now I’m more disappointed that so much memorabilia is gone and my kids won’t get to see the history of my tennis life. I wanted them to be able to see what their dad did. I don’t know if I was targeted, if they knew it was my stuff, or if it was just random. They had to go through the boxes to see the trophies.”
Sampras, 39, says that he has received strong support from the tennis community since news of the robbery emerged. Tennis Australia may look to replace the 1994 Australian Open trophy - the fourth of Sampras’ 14 Grand Slam crowns – and former player and ATP Board member Justin Gimelstob told Sampras that the ATP is trying to help replace the six year-end World No. 1 trophies he claimed between 1993-98. “I’ve had some players reach out to say they were sorry to hear the news,” Sampras said. Sampras’ 13 other Grand Slam singles trophies were not in the storage facility and are safe. “I don’t know specifically why the ’94 Australian Open trophy was in storage. It was just by chance.”
In addition to the trophies, thieves stole photographs of Sampras with President George H.W. Bush and President Bill Clinton and two letters written by President Bush. “One of the letters from President Bush was one he wrote me after I lost Tim Gullikson,” said Sampras, speaking of his former coach who died of brain cancer in 1996. “That has no value to anyone but me. And it means a lot to me.”
Precious scrapbooks chronicling Sampras’ career, assembled by his brother Gus and former coach Paul Annacone, were among the stolen items, as were newspaper clippings and magazines with Sampras on the cover. A signed piano bench from Elton John and a signed guitar from Carlos Santana were also lost.
Asked if he had a message for the thieves, Sampras said: “I hope they come to their senses and their conscience hits them. There’s no value in these items to them, but there are a lot of memories for me.”
The Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday that a West Hollywood police spokesman confirmed that the ongoing investigation had been transferred to the downtown commercial crimes unit.
There is no specific police tip line to report leads. But Sampras urged anyone with information to contact their local law enforcement office. Additionally, ATPWorldTour.com readers with information are encouraged to submit tips to content@atpworldtour.com. Please populate the subject field of your email with the words ‘Sampras Trophies’.
A few pieces of tennis memorabilia stolen from Pete Sampras have been recovered in a Los Angeles park, with police refusing to give much detail on the discovery.
Officials confirmed that three scrapbooks and an unspecified trophy were recovered after a tip-off.
The 14-time Grand Slam winner revealed only days ago that a lifetime of tennis trophies were taken from two locked storage units in west LA where they were being stored during a change of home.
Nearly 100 trophies, including his first from the Australian Open, were taken in the unexplained heist. The Los Angeles Times said that police won't comment on any leads they may have in the unusual crime.
Sampras said that he had not bothered to insure any of his stuff, since he was unsure of how to put a value on it. But one memorabilia expert told the Californian newspaper that the missing Aussie Open trophy could be worth from $100,000 upwards.
None of Sampras' seven Wimbledon trophies was among the items stolen, but his 1994 Australian Open trophy was.
A small portion of Pete Sampras’ stolen memorabilia has been recovered. One of about 80 stolen trophies and three scrapbooks were found late last week in Griffith Park, located about 20 miles from the West Los Angeles public storage facility at which Sampras’ memorabilia had been stored.
Lt. Robert Edgar, of the LAPD commercial theft division, said that police were following several leads as they attempt to recover all items that were stolen. Following the find Sampras was reported as saying that he is ‘a little more optimistic’ of regaining more of his memorabilia.
It was not disclosed which trophy was recovered. The 1994 Australian Open trophy was the only one of Sampras' 14 Grand Slam crowns that was in storage. He has possession of the other 13.
Transitioning between houses, Sampras put the majority of his hardware and memorabilia in a West Los Angeles public storage facility about four months ago. But his storage pod and one other were burglarized in November. Inside were trophies from 51 of his 64 tournament title runs, 24 runners-up trophies, six year-end No. 1 trophies and other priceless memorabilia.
In addition to the trophies, thieves stole photographs of Sampras with President George H.W. Bush and President Bill Clinton and two letters written by President Bush. “One of the letters from President Bush was one he wrote me after I lost Tim Gullikson,” said Sampras, speaking of his former coach who died of brain cancer in 1996. “That has no value to anyone but me. And it means a lot to me.”
Precious scrapbooks chronicling Sampras’ career, assembled by his brother Gus and former coach Paul Annacone, were among the stolen items, as were newspaper clippings and magazines with Sampras on the cover. A signed piano bench from Elton John and a signed guitar from Carlos Santana were also lost.
There is no specific police tip line to report leads. But Sampras urged anyone with information to contact their local law enforcement office. Additionally, ATPWorldTour.com readers with information are encouraged to submit tips to content@atpworldtour.com. Please populate the subject field of your email with the words ‘Sampras Trophies’.
W mojej prywatnej skali nie ma większego komplementu dla sportowca, który osiągnął wielki majątek i sławę, niż stwierdzenie, że nie nadaje się na gwiazdora naszych czasów. Dlatego tak bardzo lubiłem Pete’a Samprasa, choć złośliwcy pisali, że jest zimny jak ogórek.
W apogeum jego rywalizacji z Andre Agassim usiłowano wprawdzie zrobić z niego showmana, ale z kiepskim skutkiem. Napisano o nim wówczas sporo uszczypliwości, wiele z nich suflował zresztą sam Agassi. Najżyczliwsi dziennikarze w USA stwierdzali, że Sampras jest typem intelektualnie obojętnym, nie okazuje uczuć i w rewanżu od kibiców, także w Ameryce, dostaje to samo. Mniej życzliwi porównywali jego medialną atrakcyjność do koszykarza Dennisa Rodmana – w tatuażach od stóp do głowy i kolczykiem w nosie.
Sampras nie gra już od dawna, ale ostatnio z satysfakcją przekonałem się, że idolem wciąż być nie potrafi. Telewizja ESPN Classic pokazała film z uroczystości przyznawania mu członkostwa w tenisowej Galerii Sławy. Musiał w związku z tym w pięknym klubie w Newport koło Nowego Jorku wygłosić przemówienie. Było to 15 minut płaczu. Głos nie wydobywał się z gardła, ludzie czekali, aż mistrz się opanuje, żona patrzyła współczująco, syn raczkował po trawniku, a on łkał i łkał. Z trudem dotrwał do końca.
Chyba każdy z nas ma swój sportowy model doskonałości. Kiedy zadaję sobie pytanie, kto w czasach, które ogarniam pamięcią, był najbliższy perfekcji, od kogo, gdy spływała na niego łaska, nie można było oderwać oczu, przychodzą mi do głowy tylko dwa nazwiska – Michael Jordan i Pete Sampras. W tenisie pod względem estetyki ruchu z Samprasem można porównywać jedynie Rogera Federera dziś i Stefana Edberga dawniej. Mój szacunek powiększało zawsze to, że na korcie amerykański gwiazdor zachowywał się nienagannie. Poza kortem zresztą też. Sampras tylko dwa razy dał do zrozumienia, że czuje się dotknięty. Pierwszy raz, gdy po heroicznym boju wygrał dla USA Puchar Davisa w Moskwie (po ostatniej piłce złapały go skurcze i został wyniesiony z kortu, „jak ścięty serią z kałasznikowa” – pisała rosyjska prasa), a w ojczyźnie media prawie tego nie zauważyły. Drugi raz, gdy spędził całą jesień w Europie, by obronić pozycję nr 1 na świecie na koniec szóstego roku z rzędu, co przed nim nie udało się nikomu. Zadanie zostało wykonane podczas finału ATP Tour w Hanowerze. Sampras przyszedł wówczas do biura prasowego z tortem i butelką. Szampana wylał natychmiast na głowę ówczesnego szefa ATP Marka Milesa, a tortem zaczął częstować dziennikarzy. „Czy jest wśród was ktoś z USA?” – zapytał retorycznie, bo wiedział, że nikogo nie ma, i po chwili smutny wyszedł.
O Samprasie pisano, że jest „metrem z Sevres”, do którego porównywać się będzie wszystkich przyszłych asów tenisa. Nikt wówczas nie przypuszczał, że po nim przyjdzie Federer. Boris Becker pytany o opinię na temat Samprasa, wrócił do pamiętnego finału ATP Tour w roku 1996: „Grałem wówczas jak nigdy w życiu i przegrałem z Pete'em. On był po prostu najlepszy z nas”.
Federer i Rafael Nadal to fantastyczni gracze, ale ja wciąż zgadzam się z Beckerem. Może dlatego, że Sampras wygrywał w latach dziewięćdziesiątych ubiegłego wieku, a to dla ludzi mojego pokolenia żyjących w moim kraju była najpiękniejsza dekada w życiu. Pracowaliśmy wreszcie za w miarę normalne pieniądze, podczas wielkich turniejów spaliśmy w przyzwoitych hotelach, nie gotowaliśmy już makaronu na kocherze i nie pruliśmy puszek z mielonką na śniadanie, obiad i kolację. Kupowaliśmy mieszkania, pierwsze w życiu prawdziwe samochody, a w finałach Wimbledonu wygrywał Sampras.
Może również dlatego nie mam wątpliwości, że Amerykanin był najwybitniejszym sportowcem, jakiemu mogłem z bliska spojrzeć w oczy. Nie będę oszukiwał: gdy on płakał w Newport, ja płakałem przed telewizorem, bo wiem, że niczego podobnego jak z nim już więcej nie przeżyję, choć grają dziś na kortach inni poeci, przede wszystkim szwajcarski sztukmistrz z Bazylei. Jemu też zdarzało się publicznie płakać, ale jego łzy już tak bardzo mnie nie wzruszały.
Andre Agassi vs Pete Sampras: Who Is Really Better?
I read recently that Mats Wilander is interviewed in March’s edition of Tennis magazine. Mats Wilander is quoted as saying that Andre Agassi is on the same level as Pete Sampras because Agassi won major titles on all four surfaces even though Sampras won many more titles at Grand Slam level. It got me thinking: can we definitely say who’s better?
I thought it would be interesting to look at the case for both players, and then weigh them up to determine who’s better.
The Case for Andre Agassi
Andre Agassi won 60 career tournaments, the majority coming on hardcourt—46, to be exact. Agassi also won Olympic gold in 1996 and is only one of seven men to win the four major titles on all surfaces.
Agassi won the Australian Open four times despite the fact he didn’t play his first Australian Open until 1995 (winning on his debut). Agassi won the US Open twice, in 1994 (when unseeded) and 1999, and Wimbledon in 1992. Agassi won the French Open in 1999 and has an impressive French Open record, getting to the final three times with a very good win-loss ratio there over a 19-year period.
Andre Agassi was also No. 1 for a total of 101 weeks in his career and finished year-end No. 1 in 1999. In addition, Agassi won 18 Super Nines/Masters tournaments, including Miami six times and Cincinnati three times. Agassi also won the year-end World Championships on one occasion, in 1990. Agassi’s overall career win-loss record was 870 wins and 274 losses over 20 years. 2001 US Open quarterfinal
The Case for Pete Sampras
Pete Sampras won 64 career titles with just over half of those coming on hardcourt, 34 in total. Sampras holds a number of records in the game. He was No. 1 for 286 weeks, which is the current record. Sampras was also year-end No. 1 for six years in a row from 1993 to 1998, which is also a record.
Sampras won Wimbledon seven times, which is an Open Era record. Sampras won the US Open five times‚ which is a record tied with Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer, and played in eight finals, which is tied with Ivan Lendl. Sampras also won the Australian Open twice, in 1994 and 1997.
Sampras won the year-end championships five times, which is a record tied with Ivan Lendl and Roger Federer. Sampras also won 11 Super Nines/Masters tournaments, including Miami and Cincinnati three times each, and the Italian Open.
In 1994, Sampras won tournaments on all surfaces—clay, hardcourt, grass and indoor carpet—which is always a rare record even in the modern game today. Sampras’ overall win-loss record was 762 wins and 222 losses over a 15-year period.
The Case Against Andre Agassi 1999 Los Angeles final
Andre Agassi went through real peaks and troughs in his career. Agassi was a talented player who initially lacked direction, but under the guidance of Brad Gilbert in the mid-1990s, Agassi really played tennis with more strategy and purpose in mind of what he could do to his opponent.
However, after the 1995 US Open loss to Sampras, Agassi’s career went downhill to as low as No. 141 in 1997. Agassi did make a remarkable rise all the way back to No. 1 in 1999 and should be credited massively for this. But that is more stuff of legend than referring to a great player who was consistently at the top for long periods of time.
Agassi’s legacy has also been slightly tarnished by the confession in his book that he lied about failing a drugs test and was reprieved by the ATP in 1998.
The Case Against Pete Sampras
It usually comes down to one thing for Pete Sampras: his failure to win the French Open. The arguments of why that didn’t happen for him have been done to death, whether those arguments are lack of conditioning or his ability on clay itself. Sampras has said he wished he tried a more modern frame for the slow red clay.
He beat some of the best players at Roland Garros over the years, including Sergei Brugera, Jim Courier and Thomas Muster, but he just wasn’t consistent enough in his play or his movement on clay. And then it became a mental issue as he seemed to accept his fate and talked himself out of giving more effort at Roland Garros. Who was the better player Andre Agassi Pete Sampras Submit Vote vote to see results
Style of Play – Agassi
Agassi is an interesting player because he virtually played the same way regardless of the surface. That was the case in an era (1990s and early 2000s) when mainly the women played their own game regardless of surface. Many of Agassi’s opponents adapted their game depending on surface.
The other interesting thing is that Agassi played on clay in a quite typical hardcourt manner—virtually on the baseline, hitting through the ball trying to control the middle of the court and not much sliding at all.
Agassi, along with Monica Seles, revolutionised the return of serve. Agassi was not the most athletic player but had extremely quick footwork and reflexes, which he relied on to take the ball very early on return of serve and from the baseline. Agassi would occasionally take to the net off good approach shots and was a competent volleyer, but also possessed a great backhand smash.
Style of Play – Sampras
Sampras was a more conventional all-court player of his era who served and volleyed on grass virtually every point, but rallied on his own serve much more on hardcourts and clay.
On hardcourts, Sampras liked to stay back on his second serve to rally and not offer his opponent a target. On clay and rebound ace which were slower, Sampras was happy to stay back on first serve as much as coming in to net.
In the last three years of Sampras’ career, he made the transition to full-time serve volleyer on all surfaces, something he’s come to be remembered more by the mainstream media than his all court play for the majority of his career. 1995 Canadian Open final
Sampras was the more athletic player who initially relied on his natural talent to coast through matches. As he became more experienced, he combined his natural ability with a strong work ethic and will to win which made for a virtually unbeaten combination.
Their Rivalry
They played each other 34 times, with 20 wins for Sampras and 14 wins for Agassi. They played in nine Grand slam meetings with a 6-3 record to Sampras, and five Grand Slam finals with a 4-1 record to Sampras including three wins at the US Open in 1990, 1995 and 2002.
Sampras beat Agassi in the 1999 Wimbledon final. Agassi beat Sampras in the 1995 Australian Open final and 2000 Australian Open semifinal. Agassi also beat Sampras in the 1992 French Open quarterfinal while Sampras defeated Agassi in the 1993 Wimbledon quarterfinal when Agassi was defending champion. Their most famous meeting was the 2001 US Open quarterfinal, which had four successive tiebreaks.
They played in 16 finals overall, including Miami in 1994 and 1995, Canadian Open in 1995, Los Angeles in 1999 and 2001, ATP championships (Masters) in 1999 and Indian Wells in 1995 and 2001. They also played finals in Atlanta in 1992 and San Jose in 1996. Sampras has a lead of 11–9 on hardcourts and Agassi leads 3-2 on clay.
The rivalry was based on primarily the serve of Sampras against the return of Agassi. Within that there were sub-themes: Sampras enjoyed rallying with Agassi in a way no other attacking player of that era did, so Agassi was often (not always of course) the one reacting.
However, for a period between Paris Bercy 1994 the Canadian Open 1995, Agassi was certainly the aggressor in their meetings and Sampras was forced into a more counterpunching role.
But Paul Annacone later convinced Sampras to play more attacking tennis against Agassi—to go for more backhand drive returns especially on Agassi’s second serve. Whilst Sampras served bigger second serves and attacked the net a lot more than he instinctively would have done in his earlier years, the rivalry turned in his favour again.
In the last meeting at the 2002 US Open final, Sampras played as well as he did in the 1999 Wimbledon final in the first two sets. Agassi was clearly shocked by the weight of shot from Sampras’ forehand and backhand returns and didn’t find a rhythm until the third set. By that stage it was all about catch up, and despite a great fight back, it was too much and Agassi lost a closely-fought fourth set.
To me, the 2002 US Open encapsulates their rivalry. The 2001 US Open quarterfinal is perhaps their most famous match, but it’s not representative of what they could do to each other. In 34 matches they only played 16 tiebreaks, and four of them came in that one match. The 2002 final was more typical, no tiebreaks—they always went after each other’s serve and created lots of opportunities against each other in all of their meetings.
Taking all of these factors into account, I believe that Sampras is clearly a level above Agassi in achievements and level of play.
Being able to defend titles consistently is a sign of true greatness and that is reflected in Sampras’ ability to win seven Wimbledon titles by dominating extremely good opponents including Agassi, Ivanisevic, Bekcer, Henman and Rafter. It’s one thing to win a tournament once but entirely another matter to continually deal with the stress of successfully defending.
I also think Sampras’ weeks at No. 1 and six years at No. 1 separate him from Agassi. Sampras also has a better record in major finals with 14 wins out of 18 appearances with only one five-set match played in 18 finals. Meanwhile, Agassi played in 15 major finals and won eight.
Amerykański tenisista Pete Sampras, 14-krotny triumfator turniejów wielkoszlemowych, odzyskał skradzione w grudniu trofea. Odnaleziono je na zapleczu jednego ze szpitali w Los Angeles.
Do kradzieży doszło pod koniec minionego roku podczas przeprowadzki. Część ze swej bogatej kolekcji (zwyciężył w 64 indywidualnych turniejach i dwukrotnie triumfował w Pucharze Davisa) 39-letni Sampras oddał do przechowalni. Właśnie stamtąd zabrali je złodzieje.
Słynny tenisista wynajął prywatnego detektywa, który rozwikłał zagadkę zniknięcia jego trofeów. Według mediów w Stanach Zjednoczonych, były ukryte na zapleczu szpitala w Los Angeles. Policja poszukuje sprawców.
Sampras zakończył karierę we wrześniu 2003 roku, dokładnie rok po ostatnim triumfie w US Open, po którym nie rozegrał już oficjalnego meczu.
Amerykanin aż siedem razy zwyciężał w Wimbledonie, pięć razy w US Open i dwa razy w Australian Open. Tylko na paryskich kortach Rolanda Garrosa nigdy nie był najlepszy.