Pete Sampras held the Grand Slam record for numerous years, having secured more titles than any other athlete in the history of men’s tennis.
The American ATP icon was a force to be reckoned with on the court, achieving a record-breaking 14 Grand Slam titles from 1990 to 2002.
Sampras first experienced Major triumph at the US Open 35 years ago, triumphing over Andre Agassi in straight sets to clinch his inaugural Grand Slam.
Over the subsequent decade, Sampras continued to dominate, winning 11 more Grand Slam titles, which allowed him to tie with Roy Emerson for the record of 12 titles.
Following a victory at Wimbledon in 2000, Sampras set the record at 13, establishing himself as the male player with the most Grand Slam titles in tennis history.
Pete Sampras expressed it would be ‘challenging’ for anyone to surpass his Grand Slam record in 2000
Sampras secured his record-breaking 13th Grand Slam title by defeating Pat Rafter with a score of 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 6-2. During the post-match press briefing, he was asked about the possibility of his record being surpassed.
“Well, time will tell if it will be broken,” Sampras stated. “In modern tennis, it may be a tough challenge. Achieving it requires a significant commitment and performing well under pressure.”
He concluded, “While there could be potential candidates, it’s certainly not an easy feat.”
Two years later, Sampras made it even more difficult for future stars to eclipse his record by notching his 14th Major. He ended his career in 2002 with another victory against his rival Agassi at the US Open.
Who surpassed Pete Sampras’ record of 14 Grand Slam titles?
Sampras’ record stood for nine years until the legendary Roger Federer won his 15th Major title at Wimbledon in 2009, overcoming Andy Roddick in a thrilling final.
Federrer further built on his tally, ultimately retiring with 20 Grand Slam titles in 2022, only to be surpassed by Rafael Nadal, who recorded 22 Grand Slams after his successes at the Australian Open and French Open three years ago.
Currently, the Grand Slam record is held by Novak Djokovic, boasting 24 Grand Slam titles, more than any other player in men’s tennis history.
Interestingly, Djokovic’s rise to Grand Slam dominance resonates with Sampras’s predictions made 25 years earlier about the next record holder potentially emerging from anywhere, even an eight-year-old practicing in a park.
At the time of Sampras’s remarks in 2000, Djokovic was only 12 and training in Germany after moving from Serbia to pursue his tennis career.
