Pete Sampras is a retired American professional tennis player who is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. He was born on August 12, 1971, in Washington D.C., and grew up in California.
Sampras turned professional in 1988 at the age of 16, and quickly rose through the ranks of the tennis world. He won his first Grand Slam singles title at the US Open in 1990, defeating Andre Agassi in the final.
Sampras went on to win a total of 14 Grand Slam singles titles during his career, including seven Wimbledon titles, five US Open titles, and two Australian Open titles. He also won two ATP Tour World Championships and held the world No. 1 ranking for a total of 286 weeks, which is a record that stood until it was broken by Roger Federer in 2012.
Sampras was known for his powerful serve and volley game, as well as his mental toughness and ability to come up with clutch shots in important moments. He retired from professional tennis in 2002 at the age of 31, after winning his final Grand Slam title at the 2002 US Open.
Since retiring, Sampras has remained involved in tennis as a coach and commentator, and he has also been active in charity work. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, and his legacy continues to inspire new generations of players.