Pete Sampras enjoyed a legendary tennis career, scoring some of his biggest wins at Wimbledon.
The American star won seven of his 14 Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon, dominating on the grass courts.
Between 1993 and 2000, Sampras lost just one match at the tournament, as he took control at SW19.
Some of the ATP Tour’s best players tried and failed to take down the 53-year-old on Centre Court, but very few could do so.
One player who suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Sampras at Wimbledon now reflects on how the loss affected his tennis career.
Goran Ivanisevic says his 1998 Wimbledon final defeat to Pete Sampras ‘crushed’ him and derailed his career
During an interview with Slaven Bilic, former world number two Goran Ivanisevic picked the moment from his career when things started going ‘downhill.’
“My career was solid but the biggest drop, when everything started going downhill, was in 1998,” he said.
“I was in Wimbledon, I played the final, and that final broke me.
“It crushed me because I truly believe I was the better player, I played better, I should have won, and I didn’t.
“From that moment on, everything started going downhill.”
Sampras won in five sets, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, crushing Ivanisevic’s dreams as he clinched his fifth Wimbledon crown.
The Croat struggled in the years that followed, dealing with a shoulder injury that saw him fall out of the world’s top 100.
Three years after his devastating defeat to Sampras in 1998, Ivanisevic was awarded a Wild Card to Wimbledon, entering the tournament as the world number 125.
Ivanisevic pulled off several shock results, advancing to his fourth Wimbledon final, seemingly out of nowhere.
- 2001 Wimbledon SF – Goran Ivanisevic beat Tim Henman, 7-5, 6-7, 0-6, 7-6, 6-3
- 2001 Wimbledon QF – Goran Ivanisevic beat Marat Safin, 7-6, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6
- 2001 Wimbledon 4R – Goran Ivanisevic beat Greg Rusedski, 7-6, 6-4, 6-4
- 2001 Wimbledon 3R – Goran Ivanisevic beat Andy Roddick, 7-6, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3
- 2001 Wimbledon 2R – Goran Ivanisevic beat Carlos Moya, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
- 2001 Wimbledon 1R – Goran Ivanisevic beat Fredrik Jonsson, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
It was there that he faced off against two-time US Open champion Pat Rafter, who had won their previous two meetings on the ATP Tour.
Determined not to let another opportunity slip through his fingers, Ivanisevic battled hard to win another five-set marathon, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7.
At the fourth time of asking Ivanisevic was a Wimbledon champion, cementing his place among the greats.
Goran Ivanisevic picks the match from his tennis career he would most like to replay
The 2001 Wimbledon champion was also asked to pick the match from his career he would most like to replay.
“92 [Wimbledon final],” said Ivanisevic.
“Because if I had won that final I think everything would have opened up for me.
“It would have given me more strength, more confidence and I would have been a better player.
“I believe I would have reached another Grand Slam, maybe I would have even made world number one.”
Ivanisevic lost to Andre Agassi in the final, having knocked out three tennis legends during the earlier rounds.
“’92 still stings, that Wimbledon final I was the absolute favourite,” said Ivanisevic.
“I had beaten [Ivan] Lendl, [Stefan] Edberg and [Pete] Sampras and then I lost in five sets to [Andre] Agassi.
“No one thought I would lose, not even me, but now, thanks to social media, you can go back and watch those matches, so I watched them back, and honestly, he deserved to win that day.
“He played better.
“It was like I didn’t believe in myself that day, I didn’t play the way that I should have at that level.
“That is the Wimbledon final, it’s like the World Cup final; you have to bring your best; otherwise, the other guy will.”
Ivanisevic’s Wimbledon journey was one for the ages as he suffered every emotion possible before finally tasting victory in 2001.
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