Ask Pete Sampras

Pete Sampras Nick Laham / Getty

He won a record 14 Grand Slam men's singles titles in his 15-year career. Now the tennis legend is telling all in his new biography, A Champion's Mind: Lessons from a Life in Tennis, which comes out on June 10th. Use the form below to submit your questions for Pete Sampras, then look for the upcoming interview in TIME.

NOTE: Submitted questions may be edited for length or clarity. Your first name, last name, and location are required and may be published along with your question in print and online. Your information will not be used for any other purpose.

159 Questions >>

Submit your question to Ask Pete Sampras (159 other responses).

Posted by FRANCIS ELEAZAR in HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILLINOIS:
Hi Pete,

You've played against great players such as Andre Agassi, Michael Chang, Jim Courier, Boris Becker and etc. Who did you enjoy playing against the most? Also, if you were 20 years old again today in a Grandslam final, would you rather face Rafael Nadal or the great Roger Federer. Thanks and regards to Bridgette and your family.
Posted by Balaji Muthukrishna in New Jersey:
Hello Pete Sampras

If there is one part of your game i would like to borrow it is your serve. How did you develop such a serve?

Thanks
Posted by Trishna Patel in :
I am a highschool tennis player and I was wondering how do you cope with a loss? How do you mentally prepare yourself for the next match?
Posted by Christine Pappas in Burbank:
Besides tennis, what are your other hobbies that you do in your free time?
Posted by Brett Johnston in Moorpark:
One of the most inspiring moments in your carreer was the match between you and Andre Agassi at the U.S. Open just after you coach passed. You were in a 5 set match and started to break down in the 5th. You collected yourself and eventually won the match. What was going through your mind at that moment in the match?
Posted by sergio malo in zapopan mexico:
when did you first realize you could become one of the greatest tennis players ever?
Posted by Eddie Smith in Kennewick, Wa:
Pete,

Do you think your talent and success in tennis is something that you were predestined for and that God gave you the ability and desire to purse it or was it something you just kind of fell into with some lucky choices and made the most of ? Put another way, do you think the pursuit of tennis was something you could have avoided or were you just drawn to do it without a second thought?

Thanks,

Eddie Smith
High School Tennis Coach
Posted by Lieven Meert in Alexandria, VA:
Pete,

if you could recreate one particular moment of your career on a tennis court, which one would it be and why?
Posted by Rama in Atlanta:
How many times the idea of retirement crossed your mind? and what made you finally take that decision? Have you ever thought that you could have played little longer?
Posted by Matthew Dale in Austin TX:
I'm 30 years old and grew up watching you play tennis. While you were clearly the greatest tennis player of our generation, possibly the greatest of all time, others were often the fan favorite. Do you think it's unfair that others got more attention than you based on their on or off court antics?
Posted by Vince Jordan in Los Angeles, CA:
Dear Pete,

As a professional athlete, you're retire from your career at the same age as others when fully engage their own. How do you feel about that phenom and are your plans/aspirations for your next act as ambitious as those of your first?

Many thanks and all the best,
Vince
Posted by rebecca castillo in Lubbock:
So Mr. Sampras- what is it that you challange yourself with now a days?
Posted by Michael Oehley in Hamilton, New Zealand:
Pete,

If you could have reversed one result in your career, would it have been the 1996 French Open semi loss (to give you a shot at the crown), or the 1996 Wimbledon quarterfinal loss (to give you a shot at 8 Wimbledons in a row)?
Posted by Mamad Doukara in Montréal:
Hi, i want to know wtaht you do now expect tennis??? Are you coach or You do another job ???

Thnak's you and Good Luck

An of your big fan african
Posted by Nico Neethling in Rustenburg, South Africa:
Pete, did a time come about when you felt that you had enough of (competitive) tennis, that the will to play in another tournament ebbed?
Posted by Paul Bagus in Hamilton, Ontario:
In the great span of your career, you have won the most prestigious titles. But to you, which one means the most and why?
Posted by Alex Rubinshteyn in Houston:
I have a lot of trouble serving, along with a lot of other tennis players. The ball always seems to go out or hit the net. Any advice for serving accurately with power?
Posted by Sridhar Iyer in Plano TX:
What is the one loss (in Tennis) that you remember most?
Posted by Jim DeMarco in Brooklyn, NY:
Hey Pete, I saw Mr. Tiger Woods watching you play Federer in March in NYC. So how's your golf game? ..and I have to ask: How's his tennis game?
Posted by Jim DeMarco in Brooklyn, NY:
Hey Pete, I saw Mr. Tiger Woods watching you play Federer in March in NYC. So how's your golf game? ..and I have to ask: How's Tiger's tennis game?
Posted by Faith Ginsberg in Los Angeles:
What do you think of the challenge system? Would you have liked to have it when you were playing?
Posted by Richard Alonso in San Antonio:
Pete,
In all the major tournaments that you played which player did you look forward to playing the most and which one not so much.
Posted by Junjie Ke in Queens, New York:
who is your favorite tennis player to watch? what do you think Roger needs to do in order to beat Nadal at the French Open? Who do you think is the best tennis player ever?
Posted by Jonathan Racasa in West Covina:
Have you given any thoughts about going up to the commentating booth and maybe calling some matches alongside McEnroe and Carillo?
Posted by Chaitanya Netkalappa in Chicago:
Pete -

What is your opinion on 'ranking' Great tennis player. Do you think it is feasible, for example, to compare Rod Laver with Roger Federer and reach a conclusion on who was the greater player. Finally, if you had to pick, who do you think is the greatest player of the game (you have seen at least)?

Try not to dodge
C
Posted by Arjun Jani in Chicago:
Hello Pete Sampras,
what i have noticed the most in your matches that you never got tired throughout all the sets. how did you manage to keep up with your stamina? What kind of exercise do you do to keep that stamina up?
Posted by Albert Gomez in Daly City:
Hey Pete!

I'm definitely a fan of 90s tennis and really enjoyed watching you play.

Now that you've had a little taste of what it would be like playing Fed at his peak, how do you think the Pistol Pete of old would've handled Fed? It sure looked like you held your own even at 36.

Al
Posted by Andrew Krouse in Hummelstown, PA:
Pete,

Thank you so much for your great career. I would like to ask a couple of questions.

How does the pressure differ in a grand slam event differ from Davis Cup?

What would you say are your top five best matches in your career?
Posted by Guy Edwards in pORTLAND:
Hi Pete,
I hear Professional tennis players also enjoy Table tennis and Hand ball is this true?
Posted by JOHN STAMATOPOULOS in TORONTO:
BRAVO PETE!YOU SHOWED THE WORLD WHAT GREEKS ARE MADE OFF!
Posted by Raj Balasubramanian in Charlottesville, Virginia:
Hi Pete,
As gifted a tennis player as you were, did you ever miss not being as flamboyant or charismatic (on the court) as some of your fellow players were?
Posted by Jeff Mollerup in Memphis:
Pete, after your retirment, what have you been focusing on?

In what ways have you stayed involved with tennis?

In what ways has the game of tennis changed since you played including the field of players? Who do you consider, if anyone, to be the next dominant superstar of men's tennis?
Posted by Sai Gummidipudi in California:
Pete,

If you had a chance to redo one thing, what would it be and how would you do it differently?
Posted by betty alford in longview,tx 75602:
Dear Pete
You are the world's greatest tennis player. Of all the players you've
played against during your career which one did you least likely want
to see as your opponent across the net?
Thanks for the memories, Pete and good luck!

bizziebee55
Posted by Faith Ginsberg in Los Angeles:
Do you think the new racquet and string technology has helped or hurt the modern game?
I was at your 1996 U.S. Open quarterfinal match vs. Alex Corretja. Thank you for one of the best tennis matches I've ever seen.
Posted by Prasanna Ramachandran in St. Louis, MO:
Over the years you've played against some of the best tennis talent in the history of the sport, and enchanted us with several riveting five-set finals. In comparison, where would you place the current crop of players and the passion and intensity of the sport today?
Posted by Josh in Cambridge, MA:
Why do you think it is that men's tennis has become dominated by baseliner, players who rarely seek to end points with volleys? It wasn't that way in the 80s, 90s. Even Federer seems content to stand back and trade groundstrokes. What's going on?
Posted by Xenophon Anon in MELBOURNE:
Yasoo Pete,

Big fan. No doubt you put your body through a lot for the achievements. Ignoring the wealth, in hindsight, was it all worth it? Do you crave more intellectual pursuits now and find that tennis is more of a comforter?

Xen.
Posted by Jason Brumback in Indianapolis:
As a former college player turned middle school teacher, I miss long days spent on the court and often look longingly out of my classroom window, wishing I had a racquet in my hands. How do you feel now that you are not on the tour anymore? Can the void left by not having the game ever really be filled in the same way? Do you still watch the slams and wish you were there?
Posted by Tom Atwood in Charlotte, NC:
The tentacles of doping have reached into so many sports ranging from professional hockey to girls' cheerleading. Yet, tennis has remained relatively untainted. Prior to your retirement, were you ever aware of players taking steroids, HGH, or other 'banned' substances?
Posted by Tom Atwood in Charlotte, NC:
If you could go back in time and play three sets with a tennis great from another generation, with each of you at your respective prime, who would you want to play?
Posted by charles miller in charlottesville:
what was your all time favorite match?
Posted by Keerthi Vasudeva Raju in Harrington Park:
Pete,
Not accounting for the periods and relative competition,
besides Laver and Federer, who are the next five players that you think would have been your toughtest opponents when you were at your best?
Posted by spire zhao in beijing:
what your life will be without tennis?
Posted by Robert Allen in Rochester, Michigan:
Pete, I am a 53 year old married man with three almost grow kids (all at various stages of finishing college). If you were to ask anyone in my family they would tell you that I have been your most loyal fan your entire career. I guess it's true I probably have been, I once called a radio sports talk show and argued with them that you were the best athlete of all time. It made them so mad they told me that I could take my tennis racket and shove it up my a** and play with my fuzzy balls. I can't stand those talking heads, they never give any credit to tennis for the wonderful game it is. I am in the solar business and would love to put my solar roof kit on your house check it out and let know if you want it http://www.lumaresources.com
Posted by Mellissa Riley in Sacramento, CA:
Hi Pete,

You had one of the best serves ever but some of your games very not very exciting to watch because most players couldn't return the ball - they just stood there and watched it whiz by them. I realize your amazing serve led you to many victories but which did you enjoy more - winning a point with an ace or with a volley?

Lisa
Posted by Talha bin Hamid in :
Hello Pete

I think you are the best tennis player ever, and this is not just my opinion. I have seen the media at the heels of players that cannot dream of reaching your stature. Do you sometimes feel you did not get the fame and respect that you truly deserved?
Posted by Jen Reinhard in San Francisco, Calif.:
You've played on the world's best tennis courts. Which was your favorite? And why?
Posted by Sidney Robinson in Redland, Florida 33031:
Years ago we read about Big Bill Tilden breaking tennis balls, hiitting
them with great power busting them. Do you think the players & yourself have the strength & power as he did then to do that? Back then wood racquets were in. Today with mid size and large head
racquets used by all players, do you think this has spoiled the game ? I do. Maybe you never used a wood or small metal racquet.
Jimmy Conners used the T-2000 smal head size I do remember.
Rod Laver used the wooden small head Dunlop, as did Bion Borg.
using the Donney small head size. What do you think if we all go back to the small head wood & metal frame racquet??? Smaller
string capacicy & less sweet spot
Posted by Patrick Persello-Seefeld in Ann Arbor:
During your playing career, what was your strongest tennis related memory that took place while you were off the court?

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