"I am not going to have an attitude like John McEnroe... I’m more normal than Andre Agassi" - When Pete Sampras set himself apart from his rivals
Pete Sampras once distanced himself from the personalities of his rivals like John McEnroe and Andre Agassi. Sampras made the comments after beating both McEnroe and Agassi en route to clinching his maiden Grand Slam title.
Sampras won his first Major title at the New York Major in 1990, emerging victorious at just 19 years of age. The American claimed a 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over four-time US Open champion McEnroe in the semifinals before triumphing over Agassi in the final, beating his compatriot 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times shortly after his triumph at his home Slam, Pete Sampras opened up about his personality, emphasizing that he would never have the same combative nature as John McEnroe, as he wasn't prone to fits of anger.
The then-19-year-old also differentiated himself from Andre Agassi, asserting that his demeanor and appearance were more "normal" in comparison to his fellow American.
"I am not going to have an attitude like John, someone who gets pissed off," he said. "I’m a little bit . . . I’m not . . . um, uh, I’m a little bit more normal than Andre in the way I look and who I am."
Sampras explained that he rarely felt anxious or tense about anything and had the ability to accept losses with ease. He also disclosed that he made a conscious effort to avoid conflicts and steer clear of behavior that would tarnish his reputation.
"I don’t get too stressed out or tense about anything. If I win, I win. If I lose, it’s no big deal. [I want to show] that I’m a nice kid with a good attitude on the court. And I’m not going to change. [I avoid] any fights or anything which might ruin my image," he added.
"It’s not like I’m Andre Agassi with his long hair and he is really recognizable" - Pete Sampras on his 'all-American' image
During the same interview, Pete Sampras expressed doubt about becoming recognizable enough to need a disguise in public, emphasizing that his "all-American" persona contrasted with Andre Agassi's distinctive mullet look.
Sampras also asserted that his agent and parents would be quick to notice and inform him if his personality underwent a dramatic change.
"I don’t know if it is going to come to the point where I have to start wearing sunglasses and a hat. It’s not like I’m Andre with his long hair and he is really recognizable," Sampras said.
"Whereas myself, I look a little more norm. . . . You know, just the all-American type of kid. But if I change, I’m sure my agent will tell me. I’m sure my parents will tell me. And my dad will see it in a split second," he added.
Pete Sampras also shed light on the difference between his and Andre Agassi's personalities in his autobiography A Champion's Mind, expressing his belief that he was the "heir" to Ken Rosewall and Rod Laver while Agassi was the "offspring" of Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe.