What Goran Ivanisevic’s manager said about Pete Sampras after he won his second ever Wimbledon title in 1994

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Pete Sampras enjoyed a legendary career and produced some of his best tennis on the grass at Wimbledon.

Between 1990 and 2002, Sampras picked up 14 Grand Slam titles, then an Open Era record in the men’s game.

Winning seven of his 14 titles at Wimbledon, Sampras carved out a legacy as one of the greatest grass-court players of all time.

He won Wimbledon for the first time in 1993, defeating his fellow American Jim Courier in the final 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-3.

It was his dominant title defence in 1994, however, that left one ATP star’s manager comparing him to the legendary Rod Laver.

Goran Ivanisevic’s manager said Pete Sampras was the ‘best player’ since Rod Laver in 1994

Traveling to Wimbledon in 1994 as the number one seed and defending champion, Sampras eased into the final, dropping just one set along the way.

• 1994 Wimbledon SF – Pete Sampras beat Todd Martin, 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
• 1994 Wimbledon QF – Pete Sampras beat Michael Chang, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3
• 1994 Wimbledon 4R – Pete Sampras beat Daniel Vacek, 6-4, 6-1, 7-6
• 1994 Wimbledon 3R – Pete Sampras beat Chuck Adams, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4
• 1994 Wimbledon 2R – Pete Sampras beat Richey Reneberg, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2
• 1994 Wimbledon 1R – Pete Sampras beat Jared Palmer, 7-6, 7-5, 6-3

Standing between Sampras and a second consecutive Wimbledon crown was Croatia’s Goran Ivanisevic, who hadn’t been troubled on his way to the final either.

• 1994 Wimbledon SF – Goran Ivanisevic beat Boris Becker, 6-2, 7-6, 6-4
• 1994 Wimbledon QF – Goran Ivanisevic beat Guy Forget, 7-6, 7-6, 6-4
• 1994 Wimbledon 4R – Goran Ivanisevic beat Alexander Volkov, 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 6-2
• 1994 Wimbledon 3R – Goran Ivanisevic beat Amos Mansdorf, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4
• 1994 Wimbledon 2R – Goran Ivanisevic beat Alexander Mronz, 6-2, 7-6, 6-1
• 1994 Wimbledon 1R – Goran Ivanisevic beat Fernando Meligeni, 6-1, 6-3, 6-4

Fans on Centre Court were hoping to see two of the best grass-court players alive battle it out in a thrilling final, and it seemed as though that might just happen during the opening two sets.

Edging two tiebreakers 7-6 [7-2] and 7-6 [7-5], Sampras took a two-set lead in the final, although Ivanisevic had shown enough to suggest a comeback was possible.

However, to the surprise of many, Sampras stepped into another gear in the third set, clinching the title with a rare ‘bagel set’ (6-0).

The Croat was full of praise for Sampras after the match, admitting the American was a class above.

“He play too good,” said Ivanisevic.

“I never had a chance. I didn’t lose my confidence. I mean, he was just too good.”

Ivanisevic’s manager, Ion Tiriac, was even more impressed, comparing Sampras to an all-time great.

“[Pete] Sampras is the best player, the most complete player since Rod Laver, and with more power,” he said.

“I believe Sampras played better today than any other (day of his career) against the only guy in the world who could have beaten him.”

Worryingly for the rest of the ATP Tour, Sampras’ Wimbledon dominance had only just begun, as he continued to pick up titles at SW19 for another six years.

Pete Sampras’ Wimbledon dominance (1993-2000)

Between 1993 and 2000, Sampras won seven Wimbledon titles, dominating the sole grass-court Grand Slam event.

Across eight tournaments, Sampras lost one match, in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 1996.

Taking on Dutch 17th seed Richard Krajicek, Sampras was expected to return to the semi-finals without too much trouble.

What followed was one of the most shocking results in Wimbledon history, as Krajicek stunned Sampras in straight sets 7-5, 7-6, 6-4.

Sampras didn’t lose another match at SW19 until 2001, when he lost in the fourth round to a young Roger Federer, the man who went on to surpass his Wimbledon record.

He fell to another Swiss star, George Bastl, on his final visit to the All England Club, losing a five-set thriller in the second round of the 2002 tournament.

Sampras retired as a seven-time Wimbledon champion, and one of the greatest players to grace Centre Court.

In the Open Era, only Federer (8) and Novak Djokovic (7) can match or better Sampras’ achievements at Wimbledon.

Djokovic will have a chance to go one better than Sampras and clinch his eighth title when the 2025 tournament begins on Monday, June 30.