Pete Sampras

Born: August 12, 1971  |  Birthplace: Washington, D.C.  |  Famous For: 14 Grand Slams, Wimbledon Champion

The Quiet Lion of Tennis

Pete Sampras dominated tennis through the 1990s with a quiet, devastating efficiency that made winning look inevitable. Fourteen Grand Slam titles. Seven Wimbledon championships. A serve-and-volley game of such elegance that he made one of the most physically demanding sports look like moving art. He never gloated, never complained — pure Leo dignity.

Leo Legacy

• 14 Grand Slams: Held the record until Roger Federer surpassed it
• 7 Wimbledon titles: The most successful player in Wimbledon’s modern era
• Year-end number one: Six consecutive years ending ranked number one — unprecedented
• Retirement: Retired after winning 2002 US Open — on his own terms, at his peak

Sampras’ Leo confidence was so total he never needed to announce it — the trophies spoke.

“I let my racket do the talking. That’s what I am all about, really.”