"To be criticized for being dull, it really pissed me off... Not who I am" - When Pete Sampras defended himself from criticism over his personality
Pete Sampras is among the greatest men's tennis players the United States has ever produced, winning 14 Grand Slams over the course of a dazzling career. Regardless, the former World No. 1 has copped a lot of criticism as well, mainly due to his personality on and off the court.
In the midst of fiery men like John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors and Andre Agassi, Sampras' calm and contained demeanour set him apart in the eyes of the tennis world. At the same time, it created a belief that the American was also 'dull,' which many felt reflected in the lack of publicity he received from the media at large.
Sampras, however, was not one to be bothered by such remarks. Speaking on ESPN's SportsCentury Show, the 14-time Grand Slam champion defended himself, stating that he was really pissed off when people called him dull.
Sampras wondered if people would actually prefer that he acted like a jerk, unable to comprehend the concept. He quickly dismissed the idea, remarking that it was not in him to act in such a hot-headed way anyway.
"To be criticized for being dull, it really pissed me off. I'm puzzled by it. What do these people want? Do they want someone to act like a jerk out there?" Pete Sampras said.
"I could have been a jerk and gotten a lot more publicity, but that's not who I am," he added.
"There wasn't an American that I really idolized" - Pete Sampras
During the interaction with ESPN, Pete Sampras also spoke about his tennis idols, dismissing the idea that he was inspired by fellow Americans like Jimmy Connors and John McEnore.
While Sampras admitted that he liked some of their traits, he did not really idolize them, instead turning to the Aussies like Rod Laver for inspiration.
"There wasn't an American that I really idolized," Sampras said. "Sure, I respected [John] McEnroe's talent and [Jimmy] Connors' intensity, but the Aussies, those guys were great guys."
Sampras enjoyed a career that almost a decade and a half, turning pro in 1988 and retiring in 2002. He played his final match at the US Open, defeating Andre Agassi in the final to win his 14th Grand Slam title and fifth at Flushing Meadows.
He retired with 64 ATP Tour singles titles to his name, and earned more than $43 million in prize money, making the fifth highest earning men's tennis player in history.