By the time Pete Sampras faces long-time rival Andre Agassi at the Cotai coliseum in Macau on October 25, his reign as the player to have won the most number of grand slam titles might be over.
The 37-year-old Sampras has been asked the question a million times - how would he feel to lose his record for the most number of grand slam wins (14) - and he has the answer down pat.
'I would love my record to last forever, but I have always believed that records are there to be broken and I know that one day it will be broken,' Sampras said from Los Angeles. 'One of these guys will break it.'
The guys he was referring to are Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard, the world number one, has only won six grand slam titles but time is on his side as he is only 22. Swiss ace Federer, 27, is just one shy of Sampras' tally.
With the three remaining grand slams of the year - the French Open (starting today), Wimbledon and US Open - to be played before the Venetian Showdown comes to Macau, the chances are good that Federer might equal if not overhaul Sampras.
'I tip my hat to Roger, he will break it one day. He is still young and well on the way to achieving it. As for Rafael, you just have to do the maths. He is only 22 and he already has six grand slam titles. If he stays fit, he could go past everyone,' Sampras said.
The American won seven Wimbledon crowns, five US Opens and two Australian Open titles in an illustrious career which ended in 2002 when he retired soon after winning the US Open by defeating Agassi.
