The ‘sign’ Pete Sampras had that ultimately led to his retirement from tennis

Follow us on Google Discover

Pete Sampras is among the all-time tennis greats, even if his Grand Slam heroics were ultimately outdone.

Former world number one Sampras was the first man to hit 14 Grand Slam singles titles, although the Big Three quickly left him in the dust.

Novak Djokovic can still extend his lead at the top, with the Serbian’s 24 titles ahead of Rafael Nadal’s 22 and Roger Federer’s 20.

But Sampras was undoubtedly the trendsetter, and he left many tennis fans gutted when he decided to hang up his racket in 2003.

When Pete Sampras knew it was time to ‘give up’ his tennis career

Sampras won the US Open in 2002, but chose not to defend his title the following year, instead calling time on his glittering career.

As reported by BBC Sport at the time, he said: “Not being at the Open this year and not playing Wimbledon hasn’t made me miss tennis enough to really start training, start practising, doing everything I have to do to be where I want to be.

“This tells me it’s a sign to say, ‘it’s probably time’. I miss it, but it’s time probably to give up. I feel like if I wasn’t going to play Wimbledon, then that was probably it for me, so that’s the way it goes.”

Would Rafael Nadal be the undisputed GOAT if not for injuries?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

How Andre Agassi and Roger Federer reacted to Pete Sampras’ retirement

Unsurprisingly, the decision got the tennis world talking, with his fierce rival Andre Agassi among those making a comment.

He said: “It is sad in many ways, but he has the right to leave on his own terms and I wish him the world of good.”

Federer was also asked for his thoughts on Sampras before he took on the 2003 US Open, saying: “Well, first of all, I would like to say I’m lucky I played him one time.

“You know, that was always something I’ve always looked forward to, that I would get that chance. Better for me, it was Centre Court in Wimbledon, plus I beat him in an unbelievable five-set match.

“But now it’s not a big shock for all of us because he hasn’t been playing for over a year. But still, it’s a pity that he’s leaving. But he’s older, and it’s his decision. And if he’s happy this way, we all respect that.”

Federer and Sampras did indeed manage to squeeze in one ATP match before the latter retired, with the former winning their Wimbledon round of 16 clash in 2001.

But it was his thrilling rivalry with Agassi that was more noteworthy, in which Sampras won 20 of their 34 matches.