Pete Sampras, born August 12, 1971 in Washington, D.C., is a former American professional tennis player. He won 64 men's singles titles during his career on the ATP Tour, including 14 Grand Slam titles and five ATP year-end tournaments, as well as two men's doubles titles. Sampras is known for his excellent lawn tennis skills and serve-and-net play, and is known as the "King of Grass".
Growth:
Sampras' parents were Greek immigrants who trained at the Nick Politani Tennis School in Florida as a child. In 1988, at the age of 17, Sampras turned professional.
Career:
Sampras' career began in 1988, when he won his first ATP title in 1990 and became the youngest men's singles champion in US Open history at the age of 19 years and 28 days at the US Open that same year. He has achieved remarkable success in all four Grand Slam tournaments, notably at Wimbledon, where he won a total of seven men's singles titles. In 2002, Sampras ended his career with his 14th Grand Slam title by defeating Agassi at the US Open. In 2003, Sampras announced his retirement.
Major Achievements:
Sampras's major achievements include 14 Grand Slam singles titles (2 at the Australian Open, 7 at Wimbledon and 5 at the US Open), 5 ATP year-end titles, and 2 Davis Cup titles. He was the ATP singles year-end world No. 1 for six consecutive years (1993-98) and set a record of 286 weeks for the ATP singles world No. 1 rankings.
Social Contribution:
Sampras became active in philanthropy after retiring from the army, partnering with the National Cancer Society on fundraisers and contributing to the U.S. Public Library Report. He also founded a private equity firm and continued to grow in the commercial sector.
Personal life:
Sampras is married to Bridget Wilson, and the two have multiple children. He keeps a low profile in his personal life, enjoying time with his family and occasionally participating in tennis events such as the Seniors Tournament.