Editing Pete Sampras (section)

===1996: Only Wimbledon loss over eight years===
In the year's first major, the Australian Open, the top-seeded Sampras lost to the unseeded [[Mark Philippoussis]] 6–4, 7–6<sup>(11–9)</sup>, 7–6<sup>(7–3)</sup> in the tournament's third round. Sampras had what would end up being his best run ever at that year's French Open, defeating two past former champions [[Sergi Bruguera]] and Jim Courier (in 5 sets on both occasions and overcoming a 2–0 deficit against the latter) before losing in a semifinal match to the eventual winner, [[Yevgeny Kafelnikov]], 7–6<sup>(7–4)</sup>, 6–0, 6–2.

In the eight Wimbledons inclusive between 1993 and 2000, 1996 was the only year that Sampras would fail to win the tournament. Sampras lost in the quarterfinals that year to the 17th-seed and eventual champion [[Richard Krajicek]], who defeated Sampras 7–5, 7–6<sup>(7–3)</sup>, 6–4.

In the quarterfinals of the US Open, Sampras vomited on the court at 1–1 in the final set tiebreak (due to dehydration) while facing [[Àlex Corretja]]; nonetheless, Sampras would win that match. Sampras advanced to the finals, where he defeated No. 2 [[Michael Chang]] to defend his US Open title.

Sampras finished off the year by claiming the season-ending ATP Tour World Championship for the third time in his career.