Pete Sampras will forever remain a tennis icon for his feats on the court, which include reaching 18 Grand Slam finals.
Sampras impressively won 14 of those finals, having once held the record for the most men’s Grand Slam titles.
After clinching his 13th such title at Wimbledon in 2000, Sampras said his Grand Slam record would be hard to beat.
But little did he know just how special the careers of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic would turn out to be.
The Serbian ATP star currently sits top of the pile with 24 titles, followed by the 22 of Nadal and the 20 of Federer.
Photo by Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty ImagesPete Sampras singles out Wimbledon after 1999 final versus Andre Agassi
But the American has been left with many fond memories, with Sampras calling his 1999 Wimbledon final win his best performance.
He beat his fierce rival Andre Agassi for a sixth title in London, and said after the victory: “In the middle of the second set I was on fire.
READ MORE: How Pete Sampras responded when asked how different his career would have been without Andre Agassi
Photo by Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty Images
“I was in the zone. I couldn’t have played any better. It feels great. I love it out there on Centre Court. I don’t know why but this tournament brings out the best in me. The atmosphere is phenomenal.
“There is no question this is our biggest tournament and to beat Andre on the fourth of July is pretty sweet.
“Andre brings out the best in me. He elevates my game to a level that is phenomenal because I need to be at my best against him.”
What is Pete Sampras’s finals record at Wimbledon?
Sampras’s love for Wimbledon was perhaps unsurprising given his stunning record at the grass-court Grand Slam.
He clinched seven titles there throughout his glittering career, which is behind only the eight of Swiss icon Federer.
Pete Sampras’s Wimbledon finals record
William Renshaw joins Sampras on seven victories, with Djokovic also on that number and recently threatening to go beyond it.
The Serbian has lost the last two Wimbledon finals, both of which were against Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz, while Sampras won all seven of his finals at the tournament.