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Choking is being in a position to win, and then experiencing some critical failure of nerve or spirit. That never happened to me. And I can't help but think it was because I was never afraid to lose.

Pete Sampras

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Pete Sampras
Age: 53
Born: 1971
Born: August 12
Tennis Player
Washington
District of Columbia
Petros Sampras
Peter Sampras
Think
Position
Nerves
Thinking
Loses
Tennis
Happened
Defeat
Winning
Critical
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Losing
Choking
Helping
Failure
Choke
Spirit
Afraid
Nerve
Never
Lose
Experiencing

More quotes by Pete Sampras

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For so long people have just taken what I do for granted. It is not easy to do year-in, year-out, to win Grand Slams and be No. 1.
Pete Sampras
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A champion is suppose to hate to lose, and it wasn't like I was ever crazy about the idea. But I learned to deal with losing without having my spirit or confidence broken, which would help immensely over time, not just in the big picture but even in specific matches when I found myself in a jam. Fear of losing is a terrible thing.
Pete Sampras
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You kind of live and die by the serve.
Pete Sampras
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Tennis is seen all around the world if I am home or anywhere in the country, United States, people will stare.
Pete Sampras
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There's always one shot that I can rely on when I'm not hitting the ball that well, is my serve.
Pete Sampras
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Media access to us is more regulated than in golf.
Pete Sampras
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I don`t know why, but I love the dog eat dog nature of tennis. It`s real, it`s brutal and there`s no hiding place - it's like a one to one street fight. I love the intensity that comes with knowing you walk off court either a winner or a loser. It`s daunting but very exciting. There is no one to blame except yourself, no one cares who comes second.
Pete Sampras
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People watched the Masters. It was a huge event. It was at The Garden. Now that it is over here in Europe, it has lost a little bit of popularity in the States.
Pete Sampras
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Anything can happen out there on any court.
Pete Sampras
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I feel much more respected in Europe than I do in the States from the press and from the people. Americans expect me to win every match I play.
Pete Sampras
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Retirement is a work in progress. I try to figure out my day, and what I know about myself is that I need structure.
Pete Sampras
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My serve was there, everything was just clicking. Those are the days you dream about, especially in a final.
Pete Sampras
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What I've done in the game is always going to stick, no matter what happens.
Pete Sampras
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When you struggle winning matches all year and you don't really get into a groove or rhythm, you just can't expect to just come in here and have it click.
Pete Sampras
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Baseball is America's pastime, and that record is absolutely huge in the States.
Pete Sampras
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My goal one day is to be in the same sentence as Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall. If I can match them for 10 years, I'd be in their company. They were class acts. That's what I'd like to be.
Pete Sampras
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I let my racket do the talking. That's what I am all about, really. I just go out and win tennis matches.
Pete Sampras
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If I win and play well, then the ranking will take care of itself. Defending points is really not a problem. Just go out and play and not worry about it.
Pete Sampras
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Winning is about taking your opponent's heart out and squeezing it until all the blood has come out, even the very last drop. There are no prizes for a funny loser.
Pete Sampras
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I did it my way, and I have no regrets when I look back on my career that it was just a big focus for me.
Pete Sampras