Pete Sampras: A Champion’s Mind

Pete Sampras is arguably the greatest player tennis has ever seen. A man whose hard-nosed work ethic led to a No. 1 world ranking for an unprecedented 286 consecutive weeks, and whose prodigious talent made possible fourteen Grand Slam victories – a feat surpassed only by Roger Federer, cheered on by Pete himself, at the 2009 Wimbledon final. Yet while more vocal rivals grabbed the headlines, Pete gave everything on the court, revealing little off it. Now, in A Champion’s Mind, this very private champion, who so often recoiled from letting the world ‘inside his head’, finally opens up. Here, for the first time, Pete speaks candidly about the personal trials he faced – the tears shed at the Australian Open after coach Tim Gullikson mysteriously collapsed, later to be diagnosed with terminal cancer; the single-minded determination crucial to survival in the top flight; and the pressure of competing under the unblinking gaze of a media machine hungry for more than mere athletic prowess. He describes the titanic matches fought, the personalities and the rivalries – a devastating early loss to Stefan Edberg, and his consequent monastic commitment to the game; Davis Cup doubles with a fiery John McEnroe; a gruelling, four-hour US Open quarterfinal against Alex Corretja, ending with a tie-break and Pete on a drip; and of course Andre Agassi, arch-rival and friend, the player Pete faced at his first Grand Slam final and his last, 12 years later. Frank, insightful and passionate A Champion’s Mind is a unique and intimate account of what it takes to win.