Sampras, Pete (1971-…), an American tennis champion, won 14 grand slam titles. The grand slam consists of four annual tournaments—the All-England (Wimbledon) Championship, the United States Open, the French Open, and the Australian Open. In 1990, Sampras became the youngest man to win the United States Open title. He also won the tournament in 1993, 1995, 1996, and 2002. He won the Wimbledon title in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000, the first American man to win the title at least three years in a row. Sampras also won the Australian Open in 1994 and 1997.
Sampras became noted for his strong all-around game, especially his powerful serve, which reached speeds of about 130 miles (210 kilometers) per hour. His game was best suited to fast court surfaces. Sampras was a fierce competitor, but he was praised for his sportsmanship.
Peter Sampras was born on Aug. 12, 1971, in Washington, D.C. He retired from tournament competition from 2003 to 2007, when he joined a professional tour for players over 30 years old.
