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BIOFILE: PETE SAMPRAS
By Scoop Malinowski

STATUS: Tennis player. Has won more Grand Slam majors (14) than any player in history.

HT: 6-1 WT: 175

BORN ON: August 12, 1971 IN: Washington, DC

NICKNAMES: Pistol Pete, Mongoose, Sweet Pete.

HOBBIES/INTERESTS: Golf, going to the movies, going to Lakers games.

CHILDHOOD HERO: Rod Laver. His attitude on the court was very good, never any outbursts. He was always a gentleman on the court. I admire that. I tried to emulate him.

EARLY TENNIS MEMORY: I lost my first tournament match ever (age 10), 6-0, 6-0. I think I cried after that [smiles]. I remember playing and practicing with my sister Stella every day at the club for like six or seven hours every day.

FAVORITE MOVIES: Rain Man, Caddyshack.

MUSICAL TASTES: Pearl Jam, Led Zeppelin, Cat Stevens, REM, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.

FAVORITE TV SHOW: SportsCenter.

LAST HALLOWEEN COSTUME: Dracula [smiles].

PRE-MATCH FEELING: To Be No. 1 (Pete was No. 1 for six years), you have to be consumed by the game. You have to eat, live and breathe tennis. Being No. 1 is a passion. I still love competing. I love being in situations where you feel nervous before you go out there, you have anxiety. You find a way to get through. Going out in an arena like Wimbledon or the US Open, having every eye on you, it's a rush. It's a great job to play a sport. And make a good living and travel around the world. I wouldn't trade this for anything.

GREATEST SPORTS MOMENT: Winning Wimbledon for the first time (over Jim Courier in four sets in '93). You set the goal, you work hard and you achieve it. It's the best feeling when you wake up that next morning after winning a Slam and you feel great. You have ovations when you go out and play. People respect what you've done in your career.

MOST PAINFUL MOMENT: The death of my coach (Tim Gullikson from cancer in '95). He was a huge impact on my tennis. And my life. It's hard to talk about it...even now.

FAVORITE MEAL: Italian or barbecued food.

FAVORITE BREAKFAST CEREAL: Raisin Bran.

CLOSEST FRIEND(S) IN TENNIS: Don't really have one.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT: Lake Tahoe.

PEOPLE MOST ADMIRED: People who know they're great without having to say they're great. That's what I aspire to be like. To me, that's untouchable.
Copyright 2002 TheBioFILE.com. All Rights Reserved.
Derek Jeter
STATUS: New York Yankees shortstop.
CHILDHOOD HEROES: Dave Winfield, Barry Larkin - went to Michigan.
Annika Sorenstam
STATUS: LPGA Rolex Player of the Year won eight tournaments in 2001.
CHILDHOOD HERO: I grew up playing tennis. I think Bjorn Borg had great sportsmanship, so I picked him.
Pete Sampras
STATUS: Tennis player. Has won more Grand Slam majors (14) than any player in history.
MUSICAL TASTES: Pearl Jam, Led Zeppelin, Cat Stevens, REM, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.


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