In 1995, Pete Sampras was the world No.1, a five-time major winner, and the defending Australian Open champion. He was also a dominant and stoic figure, labelled by many as boring and representative of a sport in decline.
All that changed early in the fifth set of Sampras’ quarter-final match against Jim Courier when, overcome with emotion as he thought of his friend and coach Tim Gullikson, who had flown home from Melbourne with serious health problems, Sampras began to weep uncontrollably.
He somehow managed to ace his way through the tears and win the match, but it was an extraordinary moment, and one that altered the public’s perception of Sampras.
Mary Carillo, who was commentating on the match for ESPN, tells the story from her vantage point, and David remembers how he felt at the time, as a huge Sampras fan watching it all unfold on TV.
The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments.
*SAMPRAS BOOK*
Tennis journalist and historian Steve Flink has written the definitive book on Pete Sampras, called 'Greatness Revisited'. It was a valuable resource for our research for this show and you can buy it here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pete-Sampras-Greatness-Steve-Flink/dp/1937559947
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