The Agassi–Sampras rivalry was a tennis rivalry between Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras, who were both ranked world No. 1 during the 1990s. Sampras held the world's top ranking for (a then-record) 286 weeks while Agassi held it for 101 weeks.[1] With contrasting styles and temperaments,[2] they played each other 34 times from 1989 through 2002, with the head-to-head finishing 20-14 favoring Sampras. It has been named as one of the greatest tennis rivalries of all time.[3]

In Grand Slam tournaments, they played in five finals, with Sampras winning four. They met for the first time in a Grand Slam final at the 1990 US Open, with Agassi the favorite because of his superior ranking even though Sampras had defeated former world No. 1 players Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe en route to the final. Sampras defeated Agassi in straight sets.

In one of their matches, at the 2001 US Open quarter-final, Sampras won with the score of 6–7(7–9), 7–6(7–2), 7–6(7–2), 7–6(7–5); throughout the match, no player broke the other's serve. The last match in their rivalry came at the 2002 US Open final. It was their first meeting in the final since Sampras won in 1995. Sampras went on to win the match in four sets. This was Sampras's last career match, as he announced his retirement from the game a year later at the 2003 US Open.[4] Agassi retired in 2006 after 20 years on the tour.

From their first ATP match to their 1995 US Open final match, their head-to-head was tied 8–8. From their 1995 US Open final match to 1999, their head-to-head was 9–3 in favor of Sampras. Agassi has often said that the 1995 US Open loss was a powerful blow to him that took him years to recover from; amid this and other psychological issues he subsequently plummeted to world No. 141, and it marked a significant shift in their rivalry. From 2000 to their last match in 2002, their head-to-head was tied at 3–3.

At the time of their retirements, Sampras held the all-time record for most men's Grand Slam titles, with 14. This broke Björn Borg's record of 11 titles won in the Open Era, as well as the 12 by Roy Emerson from before the Open Era. On the other hand, Agassi, who claimed 8 Grand Slam titles, was ranked joint third for most titles in the Open Era, and joint fifth all-time at the time of his retirement. Agassi was the second man after Rod Laver to win the singles Career Grand Slam in the Open Era and one of then-five (currently eight) overall. As Agassi won the gold medal in men's singles at the 1996 Olympics, he was also the first male player to achieve a Career Golden Slam in singles tennis. The Career Grand Slam proved elusive for Sampras, as he was unable to find significant success on the serve-neutralizing clay courts, reaching only one French Open semi-final in his career.

Agassi also held the then-record for most ATP Masters Series (AMS) shields (since 1990) with 17. Also, Agassi has been called the best service returner in the history of the game.[5][6][7][8]

In retirement, Agassi and Sampras have found bonds to continue their friendship on a deeper level.[9]

Head-to-head

Legend Agassi Sampras
Grand Slam 3 6
ATP Tour World Championships 2 4
ATP Masters Series 5 5
ATP World / International Series 4 5
Total 14 20

Singles (34)

Agassi 14 – Sampras 20

No. Year Tournament Tier Surface Round Winner Score Agassi Sampras Sets
1. 1989 Italian Open Grand Prix Clay Last 32 Agassi 6–2, 6–1 1 0 2/3
2. 1990 US Pro Indoor World Carpet Last 16 Sampras 5–7, 7–5, 0–0 RET 1 1 2/3
3. 1990 US Open Grand Slam Hard Final Sampras 6–4, 6–3, 6–2 1 2 3/5
4. 1990 ATP Tour World Championships Tour Finals Carpet Round Robin Agassi 6–4, 6–2 2 2 2/3
5. 1991 ATP Tour World Championships Tour Finals Carpet Round Robin Sampras 6–3, 1–6, 6–3 2 3 3/3
6. 1992 AT&T Challenge World Clay Final Agassi 7–5, 6–4 3 3 2/3
7. 1992 French Open Grand Slam Clay Quarterfinals Agassi 7–6(8–6), 6–2, 6–1 4 3 3/5
8. 1993 Wimbledon Grand Slam Grass Quarterfinals Sampras 6–2, 6–2, 3–6, 3–6, 6–4 4 4 5/5
9. 1994 Miami Open Masters Hard Final Sampras 5–7, 6–3, 6–3 4 5 3/3
10. 1994 ATP Osaka World Hard Semifinals Sampras 6–3, 6–1 4 6 2/3
11. 1994 Paris Open Masters Carpet Quarterfinals Agassi 7–6(8–6), 7–5 5 6 2/3
12. 1994 ATP Tour World Championships Tour Finals Carpet Semifinals Sampras 4–6, 7–6(7–5), 6–3 5 7 3/3
13. 1995 Australian Open Grand Slam Hard Final Agassi 4–6, 6–1, 7–6(8–6), 6–4 6 7 4/5
14. 1995 Indian Wells Masters Masters Hard Final Sampras 7–5, 6–3, 7–5 6 8 3/5
15. 1995 Miami Open Masters Hard Final Agassi 3–6, 6–2, 7–6(7–3) 7 8 3/3
16. 1995 Canadian Open Masters Hard Final Agassi 3–6, 6–2, 6–3 8 8 3/3
17. 1995 US Open Grand Slam Hard Final Sampras 6–4, 6–3, 4–6, 7–5 8 9 4/5
18. 1996 Pacific Coast Championships World Hard (i) Final Sampras 6–2, 6–3 8 10 2/3
19. 1996 Stuttgart Masters Masters Carpet Quarterfinals Sampras 6–4, 6–1 8 11 2/3
20. 1996 ATP Tour World Championships Tour Finals Carpet Round Robin Sampras 6–2, 6–1 8 12 2/3
21. 1998 Pacific Coast Championships World Hard (i) Final Agassi 6–2, 6–4 9 12 2/3
22. 1998 Monte Carlo Open Masters Clay Last 32 Sampras 6–4, 7–5 9 13 2/3
23. 1998 Canadian Open Masters Hard Quarterfinals Agassi 6–7(5–7), 6–1, 6–2 10 13 3/3
24. 1999 Wimbledon Grand Slam Grass Final Sampras 6–3, 6–4, 7–5 10 14 3/5
25. 1999 Los Angeles Open World Hard Final Sampras 7–6(7–3), 7–6(7–1) 10 15 2/3
26. 1999 Cincinnati Open Masters Hard Semifinals Sampras 7–6(9–7), 6–4 10 16 2/3
27. 1999 ATP Tour World Championships Tour Finals Hard (i) Round Robin Agassi 6–2, 6–2 11 16 2/3
28. 1999 ATP Tour World Championships Tour Finals Hard (i) Final Sampras 6–1, 7–5, 6–4 11 17 3/5
29. 2000 Australian Open Grand Slam Hard Semifinals Agassi 6–4, 3–6, 6–7(0–7), 7–6(7–5), 6–1 12 17 5/5
30. 2001 Indian Wells Masters Masters Hard Final Agassi 7–6(7–5), 7–5, 6–1 13 17 3/5
31. 2001 Los Angeles Open International Hard Final Agassi 6–4, 6–2 14 17 2/3
32. 2001 US Open Grand Slam Hard Quarterfinals Sampras 6–7(7–9), 7–6(7–2), 7–6(7–2), 7–6(7–5) 14 18 4/5
33. 2002 US Clay Court Championships International Clay Semifinals Sampras 6–1, 7–5 14 19 2/3
34. 2002 US Open Grand Slam Hard Final Sampras 6–3, 6–4, 5–7, 6–4 14 20 4/5

Breakdown of their rivalry

  • All matches: (34) Sampras 20–14
  • All finals: Sampras 9–7
    • Hard courts: Sampras 11–9
    • Grass courts: Sampras 2–0
    • Clay courts: Agassi 3–2
    • Carpet courts: Sampras 5–2
    • Masters Series matches: Tied 5–5
    • Masters Series finals: Agassi 3–2
    • Grand Slam matches: Sampras 6–3
    • Grand Slam finals: Sampras 4–1
    • Year-end championships matches: Sampras 4–2
    • Year-end championships finals: Sampras 1–0

Performance timeline comparison

Grand Slam tournaments

Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
  • Bold = players met during this tournament

1986–1991

Player198619871988198919901991
AUS FRA WIM USA AUS FRA WIM USA AUS FRA WIM USA AUS FRA WIM USA AUS FRA WIM USA AUS FRA WIM USA
United States Andre Agassi NH A A 1R A 2R 1R 1R A SF A SF A 3R A SF A F A F A F QF 1R
United States Pete Sampras NH A A A A A A A A A A 1R 1R 2R 1R 4R 4R A 1R W A 2R 2R QF

1992–1997

Player199219931994199519961997
AUS FRA WIM USA AUS FRA WIM USA AUS FRA WIM USA AUS FRA WIM USA AUS FRA WIM USA AUS FRA WIM USA
United States Andre Agassi A SF W QF A A QF 1R A 2R 4R W W QF SF F SF 2R 1R SF A A A 4R
United States Pete Sampras A QF SF F SF QF W W W QF W 4R F 1R W W 3R SF QF W W 3R W 4R

1998–2002

Player19981999200020012002
AUS FRA WIM USA AUS FRA WIM USA AUS FRA WIM USA AUS FRA WIM USA AUS FRA WIM USA
United States Andre Agassi 4R 1R 2R 4R 4R W F W W 2R SF 2R W QF SF QF A QF 2R F
United States Pete Sampras QF 2R W SF A 2R W A SF 1R W F 4R 2R 4R F 4R 1R 2R W

ATP rankings

Year-end ranking timeline

Player198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006
United States Andre Agassi 91 25 3 7 4 10 9 24 2 2 8 110 6 1 6 3 2 4 8 7 150
United States Pete Sampras 97 81 5 6 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 10 13

Career evolution

Agassi and Sampras were born fifteen and a half months apart. Agassi's birthday is April 29, 1970, while Sampras's is August 12, 1971. A different viewpoint of their career evolution is offered by taking the season they ended with an age of 16 as starting point, and comparing their accomplishments at the same age. For instance in 1996, Agassi finished the season being 26 years old and holding 3 Grand Slam titles.

Age at end of season161718192021222324252627282930313233343536
United States Agassi's season198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006
United States Sampras's season198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007
Grand Slam titlesAgassi000000112333356778888
Sampras00011135781011121313141414141414
Grand Slam match winsAgassi011118304056607193104107114137151171182201210220224
Sampras004142035587999117136153161179192203203203203203203
Year-end championshipsAgassi000011111111111111111
Sampras000011122344555555555
Masters Series TitlesAgassi00001122479991010121516171717
Sampras000001257799101111111111111111
Total titlesAgassi01781214171924313434394445495458596060
Sampras0004813213136445256616363646464646464
Total match winsAgassi53194135180219261294346419457469537600640685738785822860870
Sampras0102879131203288365437502557618658700735762762762762762762
RankingAgassi91253741092422811061632487150
Sampras–9781563111111331013–––––
Weeks at number 1Agassi0000000003032323251878787101101101101
Sampras0000003587109154206252276286286286286286286286286

Combined singles performance timeline (best result)

Tournament198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006 SR
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open NH A A 1R 4R A A SF W W SF W QF 4R W W 4R W SF QF A 6 / 15
French Open A 2R SF 3R F F SF QF QF QF SF 3R 2R W 2R QF QF QF 1R 1R A 1 / 19
Wimbledon A 1R A 1R 1R QF W W W W QF W W W W SF 2R 4R A A 3R 8 / 17
US Open 1R 1R SF SF W QF F W W W W 4R SF W F F W SF QF F 3R 7 / 21

See also

References

  1. ↑ Steeg, Jill Lieber (2006-08-28). "Agassi frets over tennis curtain call". USA Today. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  2. ↑ Fendrich, Howard (2002-06-27). "Agassi, Sampras ousted Former champions fall; Safin also upset victim". Chicago Sun-Times. HighBeam Research. Archived from the original on 2012-10-25. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  3. ↑ "Ten great tennis rivalries". The Independent. July 8, 2008. Retrieved 2010-12-08. Pete Sampras v Andre Agassi. Time span: '89-02 (34 matches) Head to head: Sampras 20 Agassi 14. Grand Slam finals: Five; Sampras won four. Wimbledon: One final, 1999; Sampras won. This pair of American greats produced some of the most incredible matches. It was after the US Open final between them in 1995 and a defeat that really hurt Agassi that Andre's father wanted him to change his serve. It got bigger and speedier but it was always that big heavy kicker that was Andre's trademark, and I can still see in my mind's eye him running round the ball to crash inside-out forehand winners past Pistol Pete on big occasions. What a champ Sampras was too; all those Slams, and all achieved while mooching around the court with his shoulders drooped and his tongue hanging out like a dog's.
  4. ↑ "Sampras to retire officially at US Open". 14 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-12-13.
  5. ↑ "Tennis's love affair with Agassi comes to an end". CBC Sports. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Reed's shotmakers: Men's return of serve". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Adjectives Tangled in the Net". The New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Sampras, Agassi Have Just Begun to Fight" Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Buddy system working well for old rivals Agassi, Sampras". Archived from the original on January 28, 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

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