Pete Sampras won 14 major titles during his professional career, but he never completed the Career Grand Slam.
The American legend won three of the four Grand Slams: Australian Open (2), Wimbledon (7), and the US Open (5), but never won the French Open.
He won just 65% of his matches in the French capital, as Sampras reached four quarterfinals between 1992 and 1996.
It was in 1996 that Sampras came closest to winning Roland Garros, when he won his quarterfinal match in five sets.
Failing in his bid to reach the final, Sampras was devastated, as his Career Grand Slam dreams were left in tatters.
Pete Sampras was ‘so disappointed’ after losing the 1996 French Open semifinals
Sampras made an impressive run through to the semifinals of the French Open in 1996, where he met Russia’s Yevgeny Kafelnikov.
- 1996 French Open 1R [WIN] vs Magnus Gustafsson (Sweden), 6-1, 7-5, 7-6
- 1996 French Open 2R [WIN] vs Sergi Bruguera (Spain), 6-3, 6-4, 6-7, 2-6, 6-3
- 1996 French Open 3R [WIN] vs Todd Martin (USA), 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2
- 1996 French Open 4R [WIN] vs Scott Draper (Australia), 6-4, 7-5, 6-2
- 1996 French Open QF [WIN] vs Jim Courier (USA), 6-7, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
Competing as the number one seed, Sampras hoped to reach his first-ever French Open final but fell short.
Sampras lost to Kafelnikov in straight sets, 4-6, 0-6, 6-7.
As reported by the Los Angeles Times, Sampras was disappointed after his defeat to Kafelnikov.
“I was very tired. Very, very tired today. After the first set, I just felt the balloon popped,” he said.
“The long matches over the past week and a half, I came in here not in the best shape. It’s so disappointing because I fought so hard to get here.
“It was very hot today, and after the first set, I felt like I couldn’t catch my breath. I was flat-out tired. He saw me getting tired, and he started playing really well.
“His serve got a little better.”
Looking to move on from his heartbreaking defeat, Sampras’ attention quickly turned to Wimbledon.
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“I’ve decided to go home tomorrow and put the racket up and not see a court, especially a clay court, for a while,” he said.
“[I’ll] get back to London over the weekend, walk into those gates at the All England Club, get those feelings and those good memories, and hopefully I’ll come out ahead there.”
Sampras suffered another tough loss at Wimbledon, as his three-year unbeaten streak was ended by the Netherlands’ Richard Krajicek in the quarterfinals.
He did, however, win the US Open to end 1996 on a high note.
Returning to Paris a year later, Sampras began to struggle and never qualified for another quarterfinal.
Pete Sampras’ record at the French Open
| Year | Round | Lost to | Score |
| 1989 | 2R | Michael Chang | 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 |
| 1991 | 2R | Thierry Champion | 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 |
| 1992 | QF | Andre Agassi | 7-6, 6-2, 6-1 |
| 1993 | QF | Sergi Bruguera | 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 |
| 1994 | QF | Jim Courier | 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 |
| 1995 | 1R | Gilbert Schaller | 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 |
| 1996 | SF | Yevgeny Kafelnikov | 7-6, 6-0, 6-2 |
| 1997 | 3R | Magnos Norman | 6-2, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 |
| 1998 | 2R | Ramon Delgado | 7-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 1999 | 2R | Andrei Medvedev | 7-5, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2000 | 1R | Mark Philippoussis | 4-6, 7-5, 7-6, 4-6, 8-6 |
| 2001 | 2R | Galo Blanco | 7-6, 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2002 | 1R | Andrea Gaudenzi | 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 |
Sampras never completed the Career Grand Slam, but who did?
The eight men who completed the Career Grand Slam
Only eight men in tennis history have completed the Career Grand Slam.
- Fred Perry
- Don Budge
- Rod Laver (2)
- Roy Emerson (2)
- Andre Agassi
- Roger Federer
- Rafael Nadal (2)
- Novak Djokovic (3)
There could well be two more names added to that list in 2026, as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner both need just one more major.
Who will be the biggest disappointment at the 2026 Australian Open?
Alcaraz needs to win the Australian Open and Sinner needs to win the French Open to complete the set.
Only time will tell if either player can get the job done, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action.
Alcaraz will look to complete his Career Grand Slam when the Australian Open begins on Sunday, January 18.
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