"I had a great game but a c***py attitude" - When Pete Sampras recalled John McEnroe conversation that changed his approach on grasscourt

Former World No. 1 Pete Sampras, widely known for his prowess on grasscourt, once held a strong aversion to the surface, much to the surprise of fans. It wasn't until his conversation with John McEnroe in 1992 that his perspective underwent a remarkable change.

Sampras was a force to be reckoned with on grass, with his game perfectly suited to the surface. The American won Wimbledon seven times, becoming the first three-time defending champion at SW19 in 15 years when he captured the 1995 title.

Apart from Wimbledon, Sampras won grasscourt titles at Manchester in 1990 and the Queen's Club in 1995 and 1999. He also held the record of winning Wimbledon seven times, which was later broken by Roger Federer in 2017.

Pete Sampras told Great Britain's Ace Tennis Magazine in 2000 that he loathed playing on grasscourts for years, despite his former coaches, Pete Fischer and Tim Gullikson, telling him he would do well on the surface.

"For years, I felt that grass was unfair. My first few trips there, I thought, 'Ugh! This surface stinks'. I'm holding serve easily, but I'm going to lose, 7-6, 7-6, 7-6. My attitude was very negative, even though my coach Pete Fischer always insisted that I would do well there," Pete Sampras said.

"When Tim Gullikson took over as my coach, he felt the same way as Fischer. In 1992, we worked really hard on the two things you most need to win on grass: a good second serve and sharp service returns," he added.

The 14-time Major winner said that in a practice session during the 1992 Wimbledon Championships, his compatriot John McEnroe talked him out of his 'c***py' attitude towards the surface.

"That year, I was practicing at Wimbledon one day on a court next to John McEnroe. He heard me making negative comments about the grass. He challenged me, saying I had a great game for grass but a c***py attitude," Pete Sampras said.

"It was almost like a throwaway remark, but it must have sunk in, because here I am relating it eight years and seven titles later. I didn't get over the hump until I changed my negative attitude," he added.

---

Pete Sampras reached 1992 Wimbledon Championships SF after John McEnroe conversation

Pete Sampras pictured with one of his Wimbledon trophies (Picture Credit: X handle of @Wimbledon)

Pete Sampras, who had never advanced past the second round at Wimbledon, noticed a dramatic improvement in his performance at SW19 in 1992 after his conversation with John McEnroe.

The fifth seed beat Andrei Cherkasov, Todd Woodbridge, Scott Davis, Arnaud Boetsch and Michael Stitch before taking on Goran Ivanisevic in the last four.

In the duo's first Grand Slam clash, both gave it their all, Ivanisevic, though, triumphed in a four-set thriller, 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-2 after recovering from a set down.

Honestly, even though Pete Sampras lost the match, it was not a bad performance at all for someone who harbored much hatred towards grass during the initial stages of his career.

What came next was nothing short of a fairytale, as the American secured the title in the next three years before also doing so between 1997 to 2000.