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Pete Sampras gets a hug from John McEnroe even as Boris Becker applauds. It was an emotional farewell for Pistol Pete. — Pic. REUTERS-
"I think, what an unbelievable ending last year, after everyone had written him off for probably two years, he is just so tough and just proved everyone wrong,
"I think he's been the greatest men's tennis player in the last, I don't know how many years. His record's been amazing.
"All his results and all his Grand Slam titles can speak volumes for what a consistent, great player he was," said Lindsay Davenport.
"Pete's accomplishments speak for themselves. I can confidently say, beyond a shadow of any doubt, Pete is the best I ever played. There is no question that I ever played anyone better," says Andre Agassi.
"I think his legacy will be how much he won, how many Grand Slams he won, As a player, I think his legacy will be his serve and his athleticism. I think, Pete knew when to play, when to play better, how to play better, more than anybody I've ever met.
"I think that's a skill and a talent that was too often veiled by the accolades that he got for his physical talents. But you know, at four-all deuce, he knew what to do and he did it time after time after time.
"Boy, it would be nice to walk in those shoes once in a while," said Todd Martin.
"I loved watching him. He would always get that one break in a set. You rarely saw Pete get a second break in a set.
"He just had so much confidence on his service games to hold serve that he knew all he needed was one break.
"Especially at Wimbledon, all he needed was one break and he's pretty much won the set every time," Mardy Fish.
"I doubt we will see anyone quite like Pete again. He was the best," said Boris Becker.