TENNIS POLL!
I am sad to report that there are few web pages out there dedicated
to one of the best athletes on earth. Pete Sampras has established
himself as a force in the world of men's tennis. Even after his
coaches death, Tim Gullickson passed away on May 3, 1996 of
brain cancer, Sampras continued to play quite well considering
the circumstances. Winning the big tournaments, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open come to mind, has
made him the undisputed number one in the world.
Here are some of Pete's Stats
Date of Birth:August 12, 1971
Place of Birth:Washington, D.C.
Height:6'1"
Weight:170 lbs.
Prize Money:More than $30 million. Pete got $697,000 just for winning Wimbledon.
Coach:Paul Annacone
Fitness Trainer:Todd Schneider
Current Ranking:#1 (he lost it, but regained it from Marcelo Rios)
Here is some cool info on Pete, compliments of a Pete fanatic! <Nora Brown>
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Flavor Ice Cream: Chocolate
Favorite Movies: Rain Man and Caddy Shack (good choices!)
Favorite Bands: Tom Petty, REM, Pearl Jam
Childhood Sports Hero: Rod Laver (one of the best tennis players in history)
Favorite Athletes: Michael Jordan, Fred Couples
Favorite Meal: Italian; Pasta with Soda
Superstitions: Won't wear black tennis shoes. . .Cannot sleep unless it is TOTALLY dark
True Story, Dusten meets Pete!
This news is more for me than Pete, but I wanted to share it with all of you. Last year I went to the
RCA tennis championships in Indianapolis. It was awesome!!! Even though I didn't get to see Pete play,
I did see Agassi warmup on the practice courts. My friend (
Jeremi Jermakowicz, #2 singles on our high school tennis team)
got Andre's autograph. However, earlier that day Pete was signing autographs in a small booth.
We got in line, and I got Pete's autograph!!!! There was so much I wanted to ask him, but I was shaking
because I was so nervous! I had one of the best times of my life!
1997 Wimbledon Champ
Pete basically destroyed the competition at Wimbledon this year, cruising to a straight set
victory over France's Cedric Pioline.
In the semis, Pete played Boris Becker, and Pete won in four sets.
This sounds like good news, but Pete was the first to know after the match that Boris had just played his
last Wimbledon. Pete looked stunned, as anyone who knows the first thing about tennis would be. Boris is great, and
entire men's circuit owes him a great debt for helping bring men's tennis into the international spotlight. THANKS BORIS!!
Pete has won Wimbledon four times now, and he gave his first trophy from this tourney
to his deceased coach's grave!
Gosh, is Pete great or what???
NEW!!!
'98 US Open
Pete advanced to the fourth round without any serious threat, and then he made it out of the quarter finals by defeating Karol Kucera (the #9 seed who beat Agassi). But Pete then met up with defending champ Patrick Rafter in the semifinals. Pete injured his thigh when approaching the net in the third set, and ended up losing the match in five sets. Rafter beat Philopoussis in the finals (the first all-Aussie final since 1970).
1998 Wimbledon Results
1998 French Open
If you would like to see more pictures of Pete, go here!
Donations for the Tim & Tom Gullikson Cancer Research Foundation can be sent to 8000 Sears Tower, Chicago, IL 60606. Thanks!
TENNIS POLL! Go here and Vote!