Sampras confirms retirement

Pete Sampras, arguably the greatest tennis player in history, announced his retirement tonight at the place where he won his first and last Grand Slam title.

Sampras made it official at a news conference before the evening session of the US Open in New York.

“I am 100 per cent retired,” Sampras said. “I knew once Wimbledon came and went it was time for me to stop.

“I’m content, I’m at peace to call it a career and it couldn’t have happened at a better place but New York.”

The serve-and-volleying Sampras, whose 14 Grand Slam crowns are two more than any other player, has not played competitively since he defeated old rival Andre Agassi in four sets to win last year’s US Open.

Sampras won the first of his five US Opens in 1990. He also won Wimbledon seven times and the Australian Open twice, with the French Open being the only Grand Slam title to escape his grasp.

“It brings back a lot of memories coming back to the site of that first Grand Slam win and the last,” added Sapras. “But I know in my heart it’s time to retire.”

The top-ranked player for most of the 1990s, Sampras won 64 singles titles and earned more than £27million in prize money.

The 6ft 1in Sampras turned 32 on August 12. He and his wife, actress Bridgette Wilson, had their first child, Christian, last November.