5 Greatest hardcourt players of all time

3. Pete Sampras

Pete Sampras

Pete Sampras remains the greatest grasscourter of all time and his serve quite possibly is the best shot ever seen in tennis. However, he was a superb hardcourt player too and won five US Opens and two Australian Opens in his career. He also won 11 ATP Masters titles, most of which were played on hardcourts.

Sampras was the greatest exponent of the serve-and-volley game in his time, but could hit breathtaking winners from the baseline too. His running crosscourt forehand was a visual delight, and he also had a very strong single-handed backhand.

Sampras won some memorable battles against the likes of Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, Jim Courier and Stefan Edberg on hardcourts, and was easily the best player of his generation.

Sampras’ victory over Agassi in the 2001 US Open quarterfinal remains one of the finest matches of all time. His win over Agassi in the 2002 US Open final was also a classic.

Sampras was a deceptively quick mover on the surface and managed to have an 80% winning ratio on hardcourts in his career.