Pete Sampras was once the man to beat when it came to Grand Slam titles, with Roger Federer very much accepting that challenge.
Sampras called Federer a ‘phenomenal’ player back in 2014, with the duo having been denied an all-time classic rivalry given their different playing eras.
The American was, however, once confident of success in such a rivalry with the Swiss icon, with Sampras liking his chances of beating Federer at Wimbledon.
The former ended his career with a total of 14 Grand Slam titles, with the latter retiring with 20 to his name.
Sampras did, however, once lead the way in that regard, but his tally was finally overcome when Federer won his 15th Grand Slam title in 2009.
Pete Sampras ‘amazed’ by Roger Federer’s level towards the end of his career
The Swiss star overcame Andy Roddick in the Wimbledon final that year, with Sampras having been watching on from the stands.
He has since looked back on that moment, with Sampras telling CNN in 2016: “I was resigned when I saw Roger do it, I was resigned to it. I would have loved my 14 to last forever but it was meant to be broken and Roger has now passed me.
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“He has 17 and Rafa [Nadal] has 14 and Novak [Djokovic] has 11. Literally three guys could pass me in one decade or 15 years of time.
“It’s incredible, I didn’t see it coming I thought my 14 was going to last forever. With Roger I am sort of amazed that he is 34 now and still ranked two or three in the world.
“He is competing for majors and still playing great tennis. He is almost playing better now than he did 10 years ago. He is improving.”
Roger Federer can empathise with Pete Sampras after Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal success
Federer clinched the record in simply stunning fashion, edging past Sampras’s fellow American Roddick in an absolute thriller.
After losing the 2008 Wimbledon final to Nadal, Federer clinched a sixth success with his 5-7, 7-6(8-6), 7-6(7-5), 3-6, 16-14 win over Roddick.
The Swiss would, of course, go on to clinch more Grand Slam success, but he can empathise with Sampras given both Nadal and Djokovic have since overtaken his tally.
The Spaniard retired last year after winning 22 Grand Slam titles, while the Serbian is keen to extend his top-of-the-pile 24.
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