Sampras was the game’s best-performing player for a number of years until the big three of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic started to take centre stage.

In total, the American won 14 Grand Slam titles and also claimed five ATP Finals crowns during a 14-year professional career.

Sampras keeps himself to himself these days and unlike other former players, he doesn’t really venture into the spotlight too much.

In 2002, Sampras was firmly in the news – but not for the right reasons – as one of tennis’ biggest-ever shocks took place on Court 2.

George Bastl stuns Pete Sampras at Wimbledon

Sampras named Djokovic as the greatest ever player and he can’t lay claim to a shock of this proportion at Wimbledon.

It wasn’t supposed to end like this for Sampras as he bid to win an eighth crown in London before retiring.

In 2001, Sampras lost to Federer with the game largely viewed as the match where the Swiss superstar showed the world exactly what he would become.

The following year saw a truly memorable shock on the cards as Sampras had an issue with another Swiss player in Bastl.

The 2002 event saw Bastl qualify as a lucky loser and coming up against Sampras was a bit of a free hit for him.

A classic took place with Bastl prevailing in five sets with the 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4 win going down as the greatest moment of his career.

As is so often the case in tennis, it proved to be a case of after the Lord Mayor’s Show as he was beaten in straight sets by David Nalbandian in the next round.

The result sent shockwaves around Wimbledon but Bastl couldn’t really kick on and Sampras decided not long after that it was time to sail off into the sunset and retire.

Bastl teamed up with Roger Federer to play doubles

The singles game never proved fruitful for Bastl during his career.

He only achieved a career-high of 71st in the ATP rankings and the third round at Wimbledon – after the win over Sampras – was as good as he went in a major.

At two of the Grand Slams – Australian Open and French Open – he never won a match and only won two matches at Flushing Meadows.

As a result, he turned his hand to the doubles side of things and actually teamed up with Federer as his career started out.

The pair played at the US Open in 2002 but were knocked out in the Third Round by Wayne Black and Kevin Ulyett.

Nobody will take that win over Sampras away from him, however, and that is definitely his story to tell the grandchildren moment.

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