In 2002, Pete Sampras won his final Grand Slam singles title at the US Open.
Sampras, who officially retired from his playing career in August 2003, defeated Andre Agassi 6–3, 6–4, 5–7, 6–4 on the court of Arthur Ashe stadium. It was Sampras’ fifth triumph in New York, a place he rarely lost.
The title marked his 14th major triumph, making him the most successful player in Grand Slam singles events in men’s tennis history.
This total would later be usurped by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
After clinching victory against his compatriot, Sampras reflected on his recent results, commending himself from how he had bounced back from a shocking loss at Wimbledon just a few months earlier.
Pete Sampras said his loss to George Bastl at the 2002 Wimbledon Championships made him feel ’empty’
On June 26, 2002, Pete Sampras was stunned by world number 145 George Bastl in the second round of the Wimbledon Championships.
Bastl fought off a spirited Sampras comeback to win in five sets, 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4.
After the loss, Sampras dismissed any discourse concerning his potential retirement, before adding: “I’m not going to give in to the critics – I’ll stop on my own terms.
“What I’ve done here and what I’ve done to the game is always going to stick no matter what happens in the next few years.
“But I still believe I have a major in me.
This belief became reality two months later when he lifted the US Open trophy in front of a jubilant American crowd.
Speaking to reporters after his final Flushing Meadows triumph, Sampras reflected on how he felt after losing to Bastl in June.
“Just was empty. It was an empty feeling,” Sampras began.
“I was working so hard, I was doing all the right things. It wasn’t clicking. Little anxiety crept in. You just lose a little confidence. Guys are just getting a little bit better today.
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“I got home and was pretty down for a week or so, and I just needed to kind of, you know, start working again. That’s all you can do when you’re at a low point, is start practicing – and that’s what I did. It paid off here.”
Pete Sampras’ ‘best match’
In 2021, Sampras picked the 1999 Wimbledon final as the best match he played during his career.
Sampras defeated Andre Agassi in the final, 6–3, 6–4, 7–5. It was his sixth Wimbledon title.
“People ask me what’s the best match I ever played? It would be that one,” Sampras told the ATP Tour.
“I played perfect grass-court tennis — moving well, returning and serving well against the best returner in the world. I was playing as well as I could and I got into the zone a bit.”
Remarkably, Pete Sampras won all seven of the Wimbledon Men’s Singles finals he contested during his career.
His last Wimbledon title arrived in 2000. Sampras defeated Patrick Rafter in the final, 6– 7, 7–6, 6–4, 6–2.
