Stefanos Tsitsipas enjoyed a brief, yet entertaining rivalry with the legendary Roger Federer on the ATP Tour.
Tsitsipas and Federer remarkably played one another four times in 2019, as the stars briefly crossed paths at the top of men’s tennis.
The Greek won their first meeting at the Australian Open, in a four-set classic, as he battled back from a set down to win, 6-7, 7-6, 7-5, 7-6.
Federer won their second meeting at the Dubai Tennis Championships, clinching his 100th career title with a comfortable straight-sets win over his younger opponent in the Middle East.
He followed up his win in the UAE with a victory at his home Basel Open, taking a 2-1 lead in the head-to-head.
It was Tsitsipas who won their fourth and final match, however, taking down Federer on his way to the biggest title of his career at the ATP Finals.
Finishing all square at two wins a piece, the 26-year-old no doubt learned a lot from his battles with the 20-time Major champion.
During a press conference at the 2021 Canadian Open, Tsitsipas spoke openly about another player who inspired him just as much as Federer.
Stefanos Tsitsipas said Pete Sampras was as ‘effortless’ as Roger Federer in 2021
After winning his third-round match at the 2021 Canadian Open, Tsitsipas shared his thoughts on an American ATP legend he described as ‘effortless.’
“People say Roger Federer is effortless, I also feel like Pete Sampras was very effortless and just made the game so beautiful to watch,” he said.
“He’s also someone, because of his Greek descent, my dad when he started tennis at a late age around 18-20 years old at the University, he was a player that he really liked to watch and he passed it on to me.
“Both of us grew up watching him, I grew up being given Pete as an example.
“We would spend lots of hours at the beach tennis courts in our area, countless hours serving, countless hours spending hours slicing just volleying, all this stuff.
“He was always there, we always saw him as a big legend of our sport.”
Tsitsipas then looked back upon Sampras’ final match at the 2002 US Open.
“I certainly do remember him lifting the US Open trophy in 2002, for me, that was the best ending of someone’s career, to be honest with you,” he said.
“To win a Grand Slam title and just call it a day, he did it in unbelievable style.
“Doesn’t get any better than that.”
How Pete Sampras ended his career in ‘unbelievable style’ at the 2002 US Open
Sampras traveled to New York in 2002 as a record 13-time Grand Slam champion, searching for his first title at Flushing Meadows in six years.
The 53-year-old had suffered heartbreak in 2000, and 2001, losing in the final on both occasions to two of the sport’s best young players.
- 2001 US Open (F) – Lost to 20-year-old Lleyton Hewitt
- 2000 US Open (F) – Lost to 20-year-old Marat Safin
Determined to make things right in 2002, Sampras played some excellent tennis as he advanced to his third straight US Open final.
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| SF | Sjeng Schalken [24] | 7-6, 7-6, 6-2 |
| QF | Andy Roddick [11] | 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 |
| 4R | Tommy Haas [3] | 7-5, 6-4, 6-7, 7-5 |
| 3R | Greg Rusedski [33] | 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-4 |
| 2R | Kristian Pless | 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 |
| 1R | Albert Portas | 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 |
It was in the final where he would face off against one of his greatest rivals, Andre Agassi, who had won the tournament twice before, in 1994 and 1999.
Sampras stormed into an early lead against his fellow American, taking the first two sets, 6-3, 6-4, leaving him on the edge of glory.
Agassi fought back in the third, keeping his US Open dreams alive by winning the set 7-5.
The 13-time Slam champion wasn’t to be denied a 14th, however, as he won in four sets, 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, lifting the title high on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
He needed to be at his best to beat Agassi, something he was happy to admit after the match.
“No disrespect to anyone I’ve played over the years, but he’s the best I’ve ever played,” said Sampras.
His victory over Agassi was the last of his professional career, as Sampras chose not to return to the sport, officially retiring in 2003.
He retired as a record 14-time Grand Slam champion, a record that stood for six years until a certain Swiss star clinched his 15th Major crown at Wimbledon in 2009.
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