For the record, Sampras is simply the best

For the record, Sampras is simply the best

PARIS, JULY 10: The arguments can rage as to why he has never won the French Open -- perhaps he never will -- but the arguments over who is the greatest ever men's tennis player must rage no longer.

Sampras' seventh Wimbledon title was a record 13th Grand Slam win and a joint record in the 114-year history of the All-England Club.

Vanquished final opponent Pat Rafter opined that the lack of a French title means something is still missing before Sampras can be acclaimed as top of the historical pile -- but no matter, as few would agree on that score.

After all, the question can only be asked -- who else, if not Sampras?

Not six-times Grand Slam winner and US rival Andre Agassi, even if last year the Las Vegan became one of a select band to win all four Slams -- and the only one to win it on different surfaces.

And surely not the great names of the past, such as 12-Slam winner Roy Emerson, given that today's field of talent is so much deeper and broader than it was in the Australian's day -- even if `Emmo' also excelled at doubles, which Sampras does not.

For the British media at least, there is no doubt that Sampras is untouchable -- and not just for his achievements at Wimbledon alone.

``Sampras takes title of greatest player,'' was the succinct assessment of The Times and nobody can argue with that.

Sampras has always enjoyed the utmost respect, rather than the love, of the Centre Court crowds here -- and when he first won in 1993 the tabloids accused him, wholly unjustly, of ``putting Wimbledon to sleep.''

Nobody was yawning yesterday night -- despite the two rain breaks which meant the final stretched over almost six hours.

And the emotion finally showed as never before when the serial champion held his head when the tears began to flow at the end.

Sampras' latest achievement is all the greater given that he suffered a shin tendon injury in the second round and has suffered a catalogue of injuries over the past year.

Critics would point to the fact that he didn't play a seed until the final -- yet Rafter was the toughest test imaginable after the Aussie crowd pleaser had played brilliantly to oust Agassi in the semis.

Sampras thus still had to take on the best -- as well asthe rest.

The 28-year-old from Washington gave much of the credit to his parents Sam and Georgia after striding into the crowd to embrace them.

The pair had not dared watch him in a Grand Slam final since the 1992 US Open final which he lost.

This time Sampras insisted they come win or lose.

``My parents gave me the opportunity to play and I love them. They hate the limelight and they hate to think the camera might be on them.

``Each year I get to the final I invite them. My Dad said, `oh no, you're doing fine!'

``I mentioned it again this year and they remembered it. I said, `right guys, let's see you get on that plane.'''

On beating the record Sampras said simply: ``The record means so much to me. Time will tell if it will be broken. I think in the modern game it could be difficult.

``I love playing at Wimbledon. This is the best court in the world. It's always special to win here. Wimbledon is the biggest event in the game.