Pete Sampras

14-time Grand Slam champion who dominated the 1990s with an unmatched serve-and-volley game and seven Wimbledon titles.

Peter Sampras was born in Washington DC in 1971 and dominated tennis through the 1990s. He won 14 Grand Slam titles: seven Wimbledons, two Australian Opens and five US Opens — the all-time record at his retirement in 2002. He held the world number one ranking for a record 286 weeks. His serve-and-volley game combined a serve regularly exceeding 130mph with exceptional volleying and a reliable backhand slice. He won Wimbledon six times in eight years and set a record of 31 consecutive wins on grass. He was US Open champion five times. He never won the French Open. His US Open final victory over Andre Agassi in 2002 was his final Grand Slam appearance and his 14th major title. He won 64 career titles. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2007.

Sampras possessed one of the greatest serve-and-volley games in tennis history, featuring a devastating first serve that could reach speeds over 130 mph. His aggressive net play and exceptional volleying skills made him virtually unbeatable on grass courts, particularly at Wimbledon. He combined raw power with precise placement and had an excellent running forehand that allowed him to dictate points from the baseline when needed.

Sampras held the men's Grand Slam singles record of 14 titles for seven years until Roger Federer surpassed it in 2009, and his style helped define the serve-and-volley era of tennis. His sustained excellence throughout the 1990s established him as one of the greatest players in tennis history.

• Wimbledon 1993–95, 1997–2000 (7 titles — men's record at time)
• US Open 1990, 1993, 1995–96, 2002 (5 titles)
• Australian Open 1994, 1997
• ATP Tour Finals 5x
• Davis Cup 1992, 1995 (USA)
• Served 10,728 career aces