Pete Sampras is considered one of the greatest Grand Slam champions in tennis history. Throughout his exceptional career, he won 14 Major titles and only lost four Grand Slam finals. The last of those finals, as Sampras recounts in his book “A Champion’s Mind,” took place at the 2001 US Open where he faced Lleyton Hewitt.
Sampras’ Defeat in 2001 US Open
The American tennis player lost to Hewitt 7-6(4), 6-1, 6-1, with Hewitt claiming his maiden Grand Slam singles title. Sampras wrote in his book that the defeat was the worst he ever faced in a Major final. According to Sampras, Hewitt exploited the conditions to his advantage, and the loss initiated the debate over his game’s state. Sampras stated that there were a few experts who believed he was slowing down.
Reasons for Sampras’ Fatigue
Sampras claims that he didn’t feel tired because of his age, but rather because he had endured a demanding week where he faced several strong opponents. He wrote that the fatigue was due to an excessively demanding week filled with challenging opponents and a back-to-back semi-final and final. Sampras also mentioned that he worked very hard during the Hewitt match, but there was insufficient energy left to draw upon.
Sampras’ Later Victory at 2022 US Open
Despite facing struggles during the 2001 US Open, Sampras bounced back and reached the final of the 2022 US Open. He went on to beat Andre Agassi 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, ultimately winning the 14th Grand Slam title of his career. Over their careers, Sampras and Hewitt played each other nine times, with Hewitt holding a 5-4 lead in head-to-head matches.
