Career Highlights
2002
Reached the fourth round of the Australian Open before falling to Marat Safin 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (8).
Reached the final of the U.S. Claycourt Championships but lost to Andy Roddick 7-6 (11-9), 6-3.
After working to improve his play on clay by hiring a new coach and with different training, suffered a disappointing loss in the first round of the French Open -- the only Grand Slam title he's never won.
2001
After winning 31 consecutive matches at Wimbledon, Sampras was dethroned in the fourth round by young Swiss Roger Federer 7-6 (7), 5-7, 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-5. The defeat, his first at the All England Club since a quarterfinal loss to Richard Krajicek in 1996, ended his bid for a record-tying fifth consecutive title.
Seeking the only Grand Slam title that he has not won, Sampras lost in the second round of the French Open to Galo Blanco.Fell to fellow American Todd Martin in the fourth round of the Austaralian Open. Unseeded Martin won 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
Reached three finals Indian Wells, Los Angeles, losing both to Andre Agassi, and Long Island, where he fell to Tommy Haas.
Won ESPY award for Outstanding Men's Tennis Performer and another for Record-breaking Performance of the Year.
2000
With a four-set victory over Patrick Rafter in the Wimbledon final, surpassed Roy Emerson's record for Grand Slam titles with his 13th. Dealing with acute tendinitis above his left ankle from the second round on, won his seventh Wimbledon crown to go with four U.S. Opens and two Australian Opens. The seven Wimbledon titles tied Willie Renshaw, a player in the 1880s, for the most at the All England Club.
Reached final of U.S. Open, but was a straight-sets loser to Marat Safin. Also made the semifinals of the Australian Open, dropping a five-set decision to eventual winner Andre Agassi.
Finished season with 42-13 record and more than $2.24 in earnings.
1999
Beat Andre Agassi to win the year-ending ATP Tour World Championships for the fifth time. It was not enough to claim the No. 1 ranking to finish the year -- the first time he has not finished as the top-ranked player in six years. He ended the year ranked No. 3.
A four-time champion and top-seeded man for a record-tying fifth time at the U.S. Open, he dropped out without playing a match due to a herniated disc in his back. His withdrawl put his attempt to break Roy Emerson's record of 12 Grand Slam titles on hold.
Became the first man in the Open era to win Wimbledon six times when he beat Andre Agassi 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 on July 4. With the win, he also tied the record with 12 Grand Slam titles.
Won the Stella Artois Championships -- his first title of the year -- in a tuneup tournament for Wimbledon.
Competed for the United States' Davis Cup team but only played doubles in deference to teammates who had been competing all along for the U.S. He and Alex O'Brien staved off elimination in the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Australia's Sandon Stolle and Mark Woodforde. Depite the effort, the U.S. lost to the Aussies.
Has struggled with injury and fatigue, and started out the year by not competing in the Australian Open in order to get some rest.
Won ESPY award for Outstanding Men's Tennis Performer.
1998
Was the No. 1 player at year's end for a record sixth consecutive year. He had to battle Marcelo Rios who stayed close up until the deciding ATP Tour World Championship in Hannover, Germany.
Won his fifth Wimbledon title -- edging Goran Ivanisevic 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (11-9), 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 -- tying him with Bjorn Borg for the men's record in the open era. Sampras, Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver have 11 Grand Slam titles; Roy Emerson's record is 12.
Won the CA Trophy in Vienna, Austria; AT&T Challenge in Atlanta, Ga., and the Advanta Championships in Philadelphia for the fourth time in his career.
Won ESPY award for Outstanding Men's Tennis Performer.
1997
Has won at least one Grand Slam title in each of the last five years.
Blasted his way to a fourth Wimbledon title in five years by downing Frenchman Cedric Pioline, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4, in the final.
Started the 1997 campaign by defeating Spain's Carlos Moya in straight sets to claim his second Australian Open crown.
Entered the year ranked No. 1 in the world for the fourth consecutive year.
Won ESPY award for Outstanding Men's Tennis Performer.
1996
Captured the U.S. Open title for the fourth time in September, defeating fellow American Michael Chang in the final.
Eight titles in nine finals appearances in 1996, with wins in San Jose, Memphis, Hong Kong, Tokyo,
Indianapolis, the U.S. Open, Basel and the season-ending ATP Tour World Championship in Hannover, where he defeated Germany's Boris Becker in an epic five-set final.
Won ESPY award for Outstanding Men's Tennis Performer.
1995
Won Wimbledon for the third consecutive year, defeating Becker in four sets.
Won ESPY award for Outstanding Men's Tennis Performer.
1994
Won career-high 10 titles, including his first Australian Open and second Wimbledon title.
Was the first player to hold No. 1 for calendar year since Ivan Lendl in 1987.
Won ESPY award for Outstanding Men's Tennis Performer.
1990
Upset Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe and Andre Agassi in the last three rounds of the U.S. Open to become the youngest men's champion at 19 years, 28 days.
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