Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi helped take American tennis to the next level, winning a combined 22 Grand Slam titles.
When Agassi won his eighth and final Major title at the Australian Open in 2003, he brought to a close one of the greatest eras in American tennis history.
Sampras had won his final Slam a few months earlier as the pair wrapped up their careers, carving out untouchable ATP Tour legacies.
The American duo played out a legendary rivalry with one another during the 1990s and early 2000s but also took part in several classic encounters with other top ATP stars.
One star who played a staggering 31 matches against Agassi and Sampras has now shared his thoughts on two of the greatest players to ever pick up a racket.
Pat Rafter says Pete Sampras was ‘just too good’ and claims Andre Agassi brought ‘Hollywood’ to tennis
Appearing in a video for the ATP Tour’s YouTube channel, former world number one Pat Rafter gave his honest opinions on the Americans.
“[I] Always enjoyed playing Andre [Agassi] because I enjoyed our matchup in styles,” he said.
“I’d chip charge and come to the net and he’d pass me and lob me and do whatever he needed to do to beat me which he did pretty often.
“I got him a few times, and we got to play each other in Grand Slams and big occasions, which was unreal.”
Rafter and Agassi battled it out 15 times in total, with the latter coming out on top in the head-to-head, 10-5.
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2001 Tennis Masters Cup – RR | Andre Agassi | Pat Rafter | 6-2, 6-4 |
| 2001 Wimbledon – SF | Pat Rafter | Andre Agassi | 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 8-6 |
| 2001 Miami Open – SF | Andre Agassi | Pat Rafter | 6-0, 6-7, 6-2 |
| 2001 Australian Open – SF | Andre Agassi | Pat Rafter | 7-5, 2-6, 6-7, 6-2, 6-3 |
| 2000 Wimbledon – SF | Pat Rafter | Andre Agassi | 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 |
| 2000 Miami Open – 4R | Andre Agassi | Pat Rafter | 6-4, 6-4 |
| 1999 Wimbledon – SF | Andre Agassi | Pat Rafter | 7-5, 7-6, 6-2 |
| 1999 Italian Open – 3R | Pat Rafter | Andre Agassi | 6-1, 7-6 |
| 1998 Indian Wells – 3R | Andre Agassi | Pat Rafter | 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 |
| 1997 US Open – 4R | Pat Rafter | Andre Agassi | 6-3, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 |
| 1996 Washington – 3R | Pat Rafter | Andre Agassi | 6-7, 6-0, 6-2 |
| 1995 New Haven – 3R | Andre Agassi | Pat Rafter | 6-2, 6-4 |
| 1995 Australian Open – 4R | Andre Agassi | Pat Rafter | 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 |
| 1994 Miami Open – SF | Andre Agassi | Pat Rafter | 6-2, 6-4 |
| 1993 Wimbledon – 3R | Andre Agassi | Pat Rafter | 6-1, 6-7, 6-0, 6-3 |
The Aussie went on to describe what Agassi was like as a person, explaining what he brought to the sport.
“Andre put a new face to tennis in America,” said Rafter.
“That brash, out there personality sort of brought Hollywood to tennis.”
Rafter also shared the court with Sampras on several occasions, as he looked back on their rivalry.
“When I played Pete [Sampras] it was just the same style of player [as me], he was better, a lot better than I was,” said Rafter.
“Pete was just too good.
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2001 US Open – 4R | Pete Sampras | Pat Rafter | 6-3, 6-2, 6-7, 6-4 |
| 2001 Indian Wells – QF | Pete Sampras | Pat Rafter | 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 |
| 2000 Wimbledon – F | Pete Sampras | Pat Rafter | 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 6-2 |
| 1999 Cincinnati – F | Pete Sampras | Pat Rafter | 7-6, 6-3 |
| 1999 World Team Cup – RR | Pat Rafter | Pete Sampras | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 1998 US Open – SF | Pat Rafter | Pete Sampras | 6-7, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 |
| 1998 Cincinnati – F | Pat Rafter | Pete Sampras | 1-6, 7-6, 6-4 |
| 1997 ATP Tour Championship – RR | Pete Sampras | Pat Rafter | 6-4, 6-1 |
| 1997 Grand Slam Cup – F | Pete Sampras | Pat Rafter | 6-2, 6-4, 7-5 |
| 1997 Davis Cup – SF | Pete Sampras | Pat Rafter | 6-7, 6-1, 6-1, 6-4 |
| 1997 Cincinnati – 3R | Pete Sampras | Pat Rafter | 7-6, 6-4 |
| 1997 Philadelphia – F | Pete Sampras | Pat Rafter | 5-7, 7-6, 6-3 |
| 1996 Hong Kong – 2R | Pete Sampras | Pat Rafter | 6-3, 7-6 |
| 1995 Indian Wells – 3R | Pete Sampras | Pat Rafter | 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 |
| 1994 Tokyo 1 – QF | Pete Sampras | Pat Rafter | 6-1, 5-7, 6-1 |
| 1993 Indianapolis – QF | Pat Rafter | Pete Sampras | 7-6, 6-7, 7-6 |
“Pete was quieter, reserved, and he sort of went about his business.
“He stayed true to himself, and I think we all did. I don’t think you could be really successful and be fake.”
Sampras beat Rafter in the 2000 Wimbledon final, as he secured his tenth victory against the Aussie.
Finishing his career with a losing 9-22 record against Agassi and Sampras, Rafter experienced the talents of the American duo first hand.
Pat Rafter’s unique record as world number one
In the eight days between July 25, 1999, and August 2, 1999, all three of Agassi, Rafter, and Sampras held the world number one ranking.
- July 5, 1999 – July 25, 1999 (Andre Agassi)
- July 26, 1999 – August 1, 1999 (Pat Rafter)
- August 2, 1999 – September 12, 1999 (Pete Sampras)
However, in an ATP Tour first, Rafter’s week at number one was the only of his tennis career, as he never returned to the top spot.
Reflecting upon his brief stint as number one, Rafter said he was proud of his unique achievement.
“John Newcombe, a former world number one himself, gave me the trophy and said, ‘Welcome to the number one club,” said Rafter.
“I went back to Bermuda for a week off and then by the time I came back I was already number two.
“Number one’s who have only spent one week there, there’s not many, I’m very unique.
“Obviously, the shortest number one, you can’t beat it.
“Never lost a match as number one in the world. Probably one of the best number one’s there was, actually.”
Of the 29 players to hold the ATP number one ranking, Rafter is the only one to have done so for a single week.
Fewest weeks spent as world number one
- 1 week – Pat Rafter
- 2 weeks – Carlos Moya
- 6 weeks – Yevgeny Kafelnikov
- 6 weeks – Marcelo Rios
- 6 weeks – Thomas Muster
- 8 weeks – Juan Carlos Ferrero
- 8 weeks – John Newcombe
- 9 weeks – Marat Safin
Perhaps another player will join Rafter in 2025, and sit level with him on one week spent as world number one.
The top stars of the ATP Tour will return to action at the Monte-Carlo Masters event on April 7.
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