The legendary American won 14 Grand Slam titles in his career, and Croatian fans remember him most as the insurmountable obstacle for Goran Ivanišević in two Wimbledon finals. Today, away from the public eye, he fights his biggest battle alongside his family.
On this day 55 years ago, Pete Sampras was born, a tennis player who held the absolute record with 14 Grand Slam titles when he retired in 2002. He was later surpassed by Roger Federer (20), Rafael Nadal (22), and Novak Djokovic (24), but his name remains etched among the immortals of the white sport.
During his career, Sampras won 64 ATP tournaments and spent 286 weeks at No. 1 in the world rankings. He finished six consecutive years as the world's top tennis player.
Of his total Grand Slam count, seven were lifted on the grass courts of Wimbledon, five on the hard courts of the US Open, and two at the Australian Open. The only tournament that eluded him was Roland Garros, where he reached the semifinals in 1996 as his best result.
In addition to his singles success, he also won five ATP Finals titles and two Davis Cups with the U.S. team in 1992 and 1995.
Croatian sports fans remember Sampras most as Goran Ivanišević's rival. In two Wimbledon finals, in 1994 and 1998, the American was an insurmountable obstacle for the Croatian tennis player. The first time he won 7:6(2), 7:6(5), 6:0, and four years later in a dramatic five-setter 6:7(2), 7:6(9), 6:4, 3:6, 6:2.
"Sampras ruined my life. I like Pete, he's a great champion and a good guy. But I lost so many semifinals and finals against him. From a sporting perspective, I can't stand him because of that," Ivanišević once said for Tennis World.
Ivanišević won his only Wimbledon in 2001 as a wildcard entry. Interestingly, Sampras was in his half of the draw that year, but they never met because Roger Federer eliminated the American in the fourth round. Ivanišević later beat Tim Henman in an epic semifinal and Patrick Rafter in the final.
Sampras, who has Greek-Polish roots, married American actress and former Miss USA Bridgette Wilson in September 2000. They have two sons, born in 2002 and 2005. His older sister, Stella Sampras Webster, is a tennis coach at UCLA, his younger sister Marion is a professor in Los Angeles, and his brother Gus was the tournament director in Scottsdale.
Usually a very private person, Sampras made an exception three years ago and publicly spoke about his wife's toughest battle. "Last December, my wife Bridgette was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Since then, she has had major surgery, undergone chemotherapy, and continues with targeted therapy," Sampras wrote at the time.
"It's hard to watch someone you love go through something like this. However, it has been incredible to see how our boys have stepped up and supported Bridgette so strongly and how they support each other. It has been inspiring to watch Bridgette continue to be an amazing mom and wife through it all."
In an emotional message, he asked the public for prayers as his wife continues her journey of healing.
