Pete Sampras said farewell to professional tennis at an emotional ceremony in the Arthur Ashe Stadium before the evening session of the US Open at Flushing Meadows. 'Pistol Pete' announced his retirement from the game after winning a record 14 Grand Slams.
He has not played competitively since he defeated old rival Andre Agassi in four sets to win last year's US Open. "I am 100 per cent retired, the 32-year-old said. I knew once Wimbledon came and went it was time for me to stop. I'm content, I'm at peace to call it a career and it couldn't have happened at a better place but New York."
Sampras won Wimbledon seven times, the US Open on five occasions and the Australian Open twice. He is often mentioned alongside his idol, Rod Laver, as the greatest players in the history of men's tennis.
He is third on the all-time list with 64 titles and was the only man to finish the season ranked number one for six straight years. "I'll miss playing. I'll miss competing. I'll miss going out in finals at Wimbledon or here, in front of 20,000 people, that rush, that excitement. I'll miss the competition. Just the joy of just playing that game that I will miss."
Filed by Barry J Whyte
