"Pete Sampras' personality is not going to win any awards... It would be helpful" - When John McEnroe accused American great of lacking in intensity

John McEnroe once claimed that Pete Sampras's personality wouldn't earn him any accolades. The American also criticized his younger compatriot for lacking intensity.

McEnroe was famous for his fiery on-court personality and frequent tantrums, earning him the nickname 'Superbrat.' His iconic 'You cannot be serious' outburst during the 1981 Wimbledon Championships remains unforgettable for fans. In stark contrast, Sampras was known for his calm and composed demeanor, always maintaining a laser focus on his game.

Understandably, McEnroe wasn't fond of Sampras's personality. It was evident in an old interview with USA Today, where he discussed the 14-time Grand Slam champion.

"His [Pete Sampras'] personality is not going to win any awards," McEnroe said.

"This is a case where people would respond more if they did feel an intensity. It would be helpful to him, and to tennis, that you see he really wants it," he added.

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Pete Sampras once revealed how a conversation with John McEnroe changed his grasscourt approach

Pete Sampras pictured at the 2014 Australian Open

Pete Sampras is considered one of the best grasscourt players ever, alongside Roger Federer, Martina Navratilova, and others. Sampras won Wimbledon seven times and became the first three-time defending champion at SW19 in 15 years when he lifted the trophy in 1995.

In a 2000 interview with Great Britain's Ace Tennis Magazine, Sampras admitted that he initially disliked the grass surface and had a "very negative" attitude towards it, even though his then coach Pete Fischer believed in his abilities.

"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.

It wasn't until a conversation with John McEnroe during the 1992 Wimbledon Championships, where the seven-time Major winner called out his "crappy attitude," that Sampras had a change of heart.

"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.