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 Thursday, July 17
Sampras has won his last Slam
By MaliVai Washington
Special to ESPN.com

With Pete Sampras losing to Roger Federer 7-6 (7), 5-7, 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-5 on Monday, I think everyone will agree, including Pete, that his best years have already occurred. He hasn't won a tournament in over 12 months, which hasn't happened since he won his first event. He's never had this kind of drought.

Mal's Picks
MaliVai Washington
Washington
Former ATP Tour pro MaliVai Washington is providing ESPN.com with in-depth analysis during Wimbledon. Washington, a tennis analyst for ESPN, reached the 1996 Wimbledon final.

If there was any place for him to end the dry spell, it should have been at Wimbledon, where he hasn't lost a match since 1996. As great as he is and as much respect as I have for his game and what he's done in tennis, I think the writing is slowly being written on the wall and it says: Pete Sampras' run of Grand Slam titles is over for good.

I think people wondered if it was over last year -- and I said it was. I think he'll continue to play and he'll win more events, but I think Pete won't be considered the best player on tour anymore -- and that goes for any surface.

I guess the question for him will be is "Am I willing to continue to play tennis and continue to dedicate myself to the game knowing that my best years are behind me?" He's not thinking like that, but there's got to be a part of him that's got to be wondering. He's made a point of saying that the Grand Slams were driving him. If he can't win Grand Slams -- what is there to drive him? It's not money. It's not fame.

He'll be looking for something to drive him. If he can't find it, we might not see him on the tour much longer.

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Also See
 
Federer dethrones Sampras at Wimbledon

Agassi advances

Serena reaches quarterfinals; Capriati next






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