Pete Sampras vs Pat Rafter: Wimbledon Final 2000 (Extended Highlights) 

I remember watching this match with my dad, who is in heaven now. Thanks for uploading this.

Pete Sampras was always pure class and such a fine gentleman! I remember being so happy for him! People used to criticise Pete's lack of public emotion but his tears after this game showed he was just a quiet, modest, superbly skilful, nice gentleman!

The greatest tennis shot of all time: The Pete Sampras Serve

23:35 A tale of two fathers: Sampras's father supported his son, but never pressured him to succeed. He got a son who was wildly successful, who loved him, and loved tennis. Agassi's father pressured him to succeed. He got a son who was wildly successful, but resented him, and HATED tennis.

I still have a magazine issue that was celebrating his achievements after he retired. To me, he will always be the BEST. Till date, i haven't seen a more beautiful server. My bad luck that I couldn't personally watch him play. I did see Federer at Dubai Open, a decade and half ago. Yes he is good and has broken many records. But the field doesn't have that many contenders now a days. At the time Pete played, it wasn't the era of big 3 or big 4. At least 10 to 15 were potential grandslam champions. So the competition during that era was more fierce. Apart from Pete being mostly quiet, composed and blasting down aces in second serves (which i have rarely seen these days) there is another important aspect that very FEW noticed: Pete ALWAYS took only 1 ball at a time for a serve, NEVER 2. Now that says a lot about the mental makeup. He was confident that the wouldn't need a second go. And in the event he did, he was quite capable of blasting aces. I do hope to own a copy of all his championship final matches.

The things Pete did with that racquet and strings is mind boggling. Anyone who tried to play with that racquet will totally understand what I mean.

Federer and Nadal can win 100 Grand Slams so what. They are boring as Hell. Sampras was lightning fast, his serves were unbeatable at best (most of them were aces) and when he was at his best he was better than anyone else. He was exciting to watch and he was also modest and a gentleman. Federer and Nadal wouldn't stand a chance at Sampras in the 1990's. Sorry, but I think tennis players today are boring.

I was there watching this on the Centre court back as a teenager - amazing match! 🎾🏆🏆

RIP fast grass & serve&volley

Two decades Two centuries Two MILLENNIA Such was the duration of Sampras's dominance over Wimbledon.

Patrick Rafter retired in 2002 and is a former No.1 player in the world. The Australian’s main accomplishments were his two titles at the US Open, in 1997 and 1998. He also reached at least the semifinal round of every other major event, including two Wimbledon finals. A natural and classic serve-and-volley player, he became the first person to win Montreal, Toronto, Cincinnati and the US Open in the same year-1998. Probably his greatest regret is losing a five-set thriller to unseeded Goran Ivanisevic in the 2001 Wimbledon final.

Pat was such a cool nice guy and awsome player, still sad that he didn't at least won 1 Wimby

very good match between two of the greatest serve and volley players. now a days courts are slow and boring.

I miss Sampras style tennis.

Patrick Rafter was also a 2 time Grand Slam Champion from the US Open Championships in 1997 and 1998.

The style of the game was so different from now.. feels like watching a different sport.

sampras is the best attacking player of all time .

Precision tennis. What most young fans of the game don't get while watching. Sampras had the best service placement on first and second serves.

Footage from 2000 looks so old... it's amazing how quickly technology advanced.

Sampras did not mess about when it came to serving it out..

Rafter was such a powerful player. Two of the last era of serve & volley.

he is still the greatest champion of all time in Wimbledon 23:18

Can Wimbledon please put Agassi v Rafter semi highlights? They faced each other in two classic semis that both went 5 sets and Rafter’s way.

I wonder how John Isner would do in the Sampras era.

Sampras was carrying an injury into that Wimbledon, but because he was so close to getting GS no.13, he decided to play anyway. In order to save himself for matches, Pete didn't practice once during the tournament.

Like Federer, Sampras was/is really a master of every shot..!

Pony tail Patrick Rafter was so much cooler than buzz cut Patrick Rafter.

Winning all those 14 grand slams using an unforgiving Wilson 85 pro staff, is just mind boggling! Truly the G.O.A.T.

In my view Patrick Rafter could have won the match. He was in good shape but Pete Sampras was one hell a champion. The scores show how close the match was 76 67 76 87.

Pete Sampras' playing style is very masculine💪🎾🏆

I was a huge fan of Pete, my uncle's name also!! 🙂

For those who have Thallasemia Pete Sampras is an example of someone with the condition who succeeded.

This grass is unbelievably fast-looking

This is how tennis should be played.

Sampras was born to win on the grass

People should never forget that Patrick Rafter was also a champion on his own right. US Open Champion in 1997 and also 1998.

pistol pete sampras . the best !!!

I dont know what is so great about serve & volley tennis? Can anybody explain? No sarcasm here just asking..

Bring back fast grass !

Peeeeete!! 130 mph serve - Ace : so sweet, he cries, runs up to dad n mom: what a gentleman

gosh 2000 looks so old now

This was the beginning of the end for Sampras, for the first time in a Wimbledon final he looked nervous, disjointed and emotional and not the machine he was in previous years.

23:15 "He has rewritten the record books as arguably the greatest champion of all time" Funny how times change, I'm sure when he said that he never imagined that ~15 years later there would be two guys with more grand slams than Sampras and a third closing in. Obviously Sampras will always be a legend, the only difference now being he's one of the greatest.

They should stop bowing culture before the start of match . Come on they are players.

Sampras was solid as a rock when it came to the Wimbledon Final. 7 out of 7 and he only needed five sets on one occasion (1998). Even if Rafter had capitalised on the 4-1 lead in the 2nd set tiebreak and taken it, I'd still have backed Sampras to win the match in five. It's easy to forget how great Sampras was at his very best.

Pete Sampras. The cyborg. Quality, power, accuracy, consistency. I wish he had won a French Open. Mens finals were the day after the semis too. He'd probably have more longevity.

Today's baseline game, attacking the net only when the opportunity presents itself makes for longer rallies, more exciting points. The players now being more athletic and more consistent on all strokes. Not taking anything away from the greats, but this final had points rarely going past 3 or 4 strokes.

The commentator gave an imprecise fact; Rafter beat Sampras at the ‘98 US OPEN, not in ‘97

I can't believe I'm totally into Sampras after watching his matches.

Sampras my favorite..the best serve in the world...federrer is just my second...third is agassi....

14 Slams in 18 finals,not bad for someone who had thalassemia,would have won 3-4 Slams if he hadn’t missed 1999 AO,US and retired quite early,plus,I have never seen him loosing a match point on a Grand Slam,Pete was the man.

Sampras was , like many great players - a fantastic front runner - once in front he usually pulls out all the stops ..... Great close match in the first sets Rafter one of the few who could volley as well as Sampras

Best serve & volley player everrrrr

rafter blew it on the 2nd tie break

In kurt angle words sampras won the wimbeldon with broken freakein foot

THE TRUE GOAT

Head to head Patrick Rafter 2 Roger Federer 0

Last time Wimbledon was played on fast grass. They slowed it down in 2001.

Serve and Volley was the classic way to win at Wimbledon...

Rafter: best player to never win Wimbledon?

La leggenda sampras 🏸

The Sampras backhand is a deceptive side. It may not do much nor win many outright points during stroke play but many had approached, hitting to that side, only to see a screaming passing shot passed by. It had the same utility as Steffi Graf's backhand.

Every of his 7 Wimbledon Titels are more than 2 of Roger! Roger played under such easier conditions, much slower and easier. They use an other grass mix that makes grass slow. They wanted that Allrounder like Federer and Nadal have a Chance to win!

FUN FACT: Sampras doesnt won any tournament until US Open 2002 . Next Wimbledoon he will losse to federer in 1/8. ... 2002 he loose in second round to Bustle...

This gentle australian is one of the best serve and volley player apart from McKenroe Sampras, Rchard Krachicejk, Edberg, Henmann and Becker. After their retirement the serve and volley game has lost for ever. Only baseline and hitting the ball harder and harder without any grace. Federer , Jokovich, and Nadal ,( ok for French open as base line play) destroyed the gameIn the 90's the serve and volley game was > 30 % and it has dropped < 9%.Only Andy Murray plays some and volley . Now a days i put off the TV and see only results. Food ball is the same , too money fowls. Cricket becomes baseball. Dear sportsmen , donot spoils originality of any game. Money and winning is important but do it gracefully.

Is it just me, thinking that Pat Cash was totally biased in his commentary. At 21:15 Sampras get the break and he says "that's the only way Sampras can win"....is it really?

Pistol Pit!! Magnificent player!

Sunday 9th July 2000

I was born 4 days after this

Pete Sampras=G.O.A.T. ✌🏻👏🏻👍🏻

Sampras on this fast grass would tear anyone (including big 3).

It’s insane.. even when there’s US Open, all Americans wanna win Wimbledon way more. Even Kyrgios & Hewitt wants it more than AO

Serve and Volley vs Baseline bashing . Lightning exchanges - first touch decisive. The close quarter gunfight - the one cut samurai showdown vs slow beat down with armor and clubs.

He's a great player and a great gentleman. Love him from India

I watched this match with the most perfectly chilled glass of Coca Cola anybody, anywhere, has ever experienced - only for Ian to surreptitiously take the first sip. I was furious! However, to salve my wounded heart, Dad took me up to Video Drive-in, at the conclusion of this match, where he rented 'Beavis & Butthead: Do America', for me; he got 'Donnie Brasco' for himself, if I remember right. That day remains the fondest of fond memories.

Why did they always adjust the strings of the racket back then, was the material different?

Great match from Sampras!

Bring back the fast grass!

Watching this couldn't be further from the game played today. So bizarre to watch this

its not sampras fault even today's players if given such court will become serve and volley player

5:09 that serve by Rafter was just pathetic. He tried to play it safe on set point and got immediately punished for it.

mitico pistol pete. 7 wimbledon in 8 anni. eh sì lo possiamo dire non si trovava tanto male a church road

not only to that time, he still is. Playing way less than Federer, his win/loss specially at Wimbledon is the greatest of all time. Fact

Slowing down tennis really opened up the field to more players.

Rafter is so much better than roddick lol

rafter from 🦘？

This was really boring. I enojyed it at the time but compared to the Tennis today....

Pete was a legend on grass. Pat Cash’s shambolic commentary during the match couldn’t have been more bias.

Will we ever see Serve and V VS Serve and V ever again in our lives?

Rafter was unlucky he remained runner up In most grand slams. Yet rafter remains favourite to me. Sampras no doubt the legend.

Remember watching this great match. Sampras was the more talented player, but Rafter was the better volleyer, and troubled Sampras at his best. This match was a classic example of how a match is decided on but a few points (i.e. in the 2nd set tie-break).

The most emotionally constipated nation in the world criticised Pete’s lack of emotion and based their criticism on that failing to see and extoll his professional attitudes, politeness , tact and good given talent. The most spectacular player ever and the real GOAT. The Wimbledon crowd and UK would either support their own or or the same extraction.The draws were against him to favour either the wig wearing Agassi or the gutsy but fail to produce Henman. Disgusting

Two elite serve and volley legends just wanted to show the world that they are the best at what they do.

I like Pat Rafter but commentator Pat Cash has always been the world's biggest homer, on or off the court--no class

My Boy! Pistol Pete! The BEST ever!

obviously rafter couldn't handle the situation with 4-1 up in second set tiebreak :_(

this was the time where serve and volley was starting to come to an end

Just to think, that back then his 7th Wimbledon was thought as something, that can never be matched let alone broken...12 years later there we go... Overall 14 grand slam titles seemed impossible to win as well! Now in 2019 we have 3 people playing and competing in the same era, who surpassed that mark! Crazy! LOL

He was chasing a record and today there are 3 other guys with 13 or more grand slam titles

Bitter-sweet story for Pete. His record was broken only 9 years later and 19 years later he is 4th in the all time list.