Did Pete Sampras EVER smash a racquet?

[King No1e]

We talk about Nadal's restraint and how he promised never to smash his racquet when he started playing. But I've never heard of nor seen Pete break a racquet, or really display any frustration on court. Have you ever seen an instance of him smashing his racquet, and if so, can you find video of it?

If not, then it's truly impressive for such a long, accomplished career. Speaks volumes about his professionalism.

 

[Deleted member 774170]

He did here but it was an accident. PETE is too powerful for his own good

 

[skaj]

He's too boring for that.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

PETE is a gentleman.

 

[King No1e]

He's too boring for that.

I suppose it's easier to keep your composure when you're a servebot and you know you can just hit 4 aces when you're in trouble.

 

[Jonesy]

I suppose it's easier to keep your composure when you're a servebot and you know you can just hit 4 aces when you're in trouble.

Say that to Kyrgios.

 

[EllieK]

I don’t think so.

 

[Devilito]

When Pete was playing, Wilson was no longer making the St Vincent version of the Pro Staff he played with. He had a limited supply saved up. It's not like new players that can destroy 100 racquets and just get more made. That probably played a pretty big role in it

 

[Bhagi Katbamna]

Towards the end of his career his rackets were getting old and he broke a few hitting the ball.

 

[Mainad]

Not just Sampras, I don't think racquet smashing has ever been a big thing with the top guys. Don't recall even Connors or McEnroe ever doing it despite their notorious tempers. Federer did it just the once (2009 Miami) but Djokovic seems to be very much the exception amongst top guys in doing it so often.

 

[lim]

pic is from Nate Ferguson

 

[BeatlesFan]

Read Pete's book, he said he smashed a few rackets in the juniors. When he trained at Lendl's Greenwich house in the summer of 1989, Lendl advised him never to waste the time to smash a racket, since it gives your opponent a mental advantage. Pete heeded the advice, no smashed rackets in his pro career (outside of exo's where he did it as a joke).

 

[swordtennis]

That one against Agassi was one of them.
The Broken Sword of a God.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

When I worked at a Sizzler in the early 2000's PETE smashed a raquet over my head because I politely informed him that he forgot to tip me.

Dude left 8 dollars (in change) on a 7 dollar order.

Been a Fed fan ever since.

 

[Third Serve]

When I worked at a Sizzler in the early 2000's PETE smashed a raquet over my head because I politely informed him that he forgot to tip me.

Dude left 8 dollars (in change) on a 7 dollar order.

Been a Fed fan ever since.

Andre Agassi reacted to your post in the thread "Did Pete Sampras EVER smash a racquet?" with Like

 

[MeatTornado]

I suppose it's easier to keep your composure when you're a servebot and you know you can just hit 4 aces when you're in trouble.

Pete "No Ground Game" Sampras

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Andre Agassi reacted to your post in the thread "Did Pete Sampras EVER smash a racquet?" with Like

Spoiler

 

[Third Serve]

Spoiler

Spoiler

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Spoiler

 

[Third Serve]

For awhile, I thought this one was his worst:

But then I saw the jorts one...

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

For awhile, I thought this one was his worst:

But then I saw the jorts one...

Pirates of the Caribbean kit.

Nike be like - $999 for the set, goatee not included.

 

[Third Serve]

Pirates of the Caribbean kit.

Nike be like - $999 for the set, goatee not included.

I feel like they designed the outfit around the earrings.

 

[DSH]

 

[Fedforever]

I have a memory of him getting very sarky with the Wimbledon crowd once when they'd been massively cheering on his opponent (a British guy - not Henman).

Couldn't tell you when and it may be a figment of my imagination!

 

[erosblue]

I remember Pete angry at his raquet during the 1992 US Open final against Edberg.Not sure but think it was during the 3rd set Tiebreak.Pretty sure he broke it bouncing violently in the ground.

 

[Villain]

Pete "No Ground Game" Sampras

Uh no.

 

[MeatTornado]

Uh no.

Yeah, no duh.

 

[Villain]

Yeah, no duh.

I couldn’t pick up your sarcasm meter.

 

[Slowtwitcher]

Not just Sampras, I don't think racquet smashing has ever been a big thing with the top guys. Don't recall even Connors or McEnroe ever doing it despite their notorious tempers. Federer did it just the once (2009 Miami) but Djokovic seems to be very much the exception amongst top guys in doing it so often.

Djoke fans: he only does it because he has too, why do you like to pick on Novaxx??? Have you seen Fed? He thinks about smashing his racquet a lot more times than Djoke!