Pete Sampras
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American tennis player Pete
Sampras raises his arms in celebration after winning a semifinal match at the 1993 United
States Open. It was one of a number of major titles Sampras won in the 1990s, as he became
a dominant player on the men’s professional tour. |
Sampras,
Pete (1971- ), American professional tennis player, who in 1990
became the youngest men's player ever to win the singles title at the United States Open.
Born Peter Sampras in Washington, D.C., he was raised in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
In 1988 he left high school to become a professional tennis player. In 1990 he won the
U.S. Open and the inaugural Grand Slam Cup tournament.
Sampras, modeling his style of
play on that of Australian tennis player Rod Laver, developed an
extremely fast serve and powerful ground strokes. He also became known for his proficient
volleying. In 1993 Sampras won Wimbledon and then his second U.S. Open. That year he also
became the first professional player to record more than 1000 aces (serves beyond
the reach of the opponent) in a single year. In 1994 he won the Australian Open and
Wimbledon, and in 1995 he won Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Sampras played on the U.S. Davis Cup teams in 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995 and 1997. By the look of his skills he can
go on to become the greatest player in the history of Tennis!
