Twenty-seven years ago, a fresh face American from Maryland turned pro at the tender age of sixteen.
Two years later in 1990, he won the U.S. Open.
A legend was born.
Pete Sampras defeated fellow rising American, Andre Agassi, in straight sets to solidifying his place as a face of American tennis and as one of the biggest stars for the next decade.
Two years later in 1990, he won the U.S. Open.
A legend was born.
Pete Sampras defeated fellow rising American, Andre Agassi, in straight sets to solidifying his place as a face of American tennis and as one of the biggest stars for the next decade.
The Letter
In “Letter to My Younger Self”, Pete Sampras writes to his 16-year-old self about the trials and tribulations that he will face during his career. From his recollection, the older Sampras offers various advice to the younger on how to navigate the ups and downs of his career. Sampras becomes a pro at the age of sixteen.
He informs his younger self, “everything will change.”
He informs his younger self, “everything will change.”
After becoming the youngest player to ever win the US Open, he will no longer be just an American tennis player but THE American tennis player along with others such as Agassi and McEnroe. As a result more request will pile on, he’ll be on talk shows and television. The rapid rise of his stardom does not suit well with his “reserved personality.” People will be wanting more out of him and he’ll get tired of doing these things after another. Luckily social media won’t be established for a while, and he’ll get to retain a certain degree of privacy.
Sampras advises himself to not read the newspaper or anything the press says about him. He urges to keep it all on the court and let his game do the talking.
There are new advances to the technology of the game- especially strings. The younger Pete being controlling of his equipment decides against the change, which proved costly- he never wins the French Open.
Taking care of your body is one of the things Sampras stresses. He admits to his younger self that he fell short in maintaining his health during the time. The effects of all the midnight cravings and snacking on junk food and playing on an unhealthy diet did a number on him. He also cautions about the pills. Those pills will eventually lead him to develop an ulcer.
There are new advances to the technology of the game- especially strings. The younger Pete being controlling of his equipment decides against the change, which proved costly- he never wins the French Open.
Taking care of your body is one of the things Sampras stresses. He admits to his younger self that he fell short in maintaining his health during the time. The effects of all the midnight cravings and snacking on junk food and playing on an unhealthy diet did a number on him. He also cautions about the pills. Those pills will eventually lead him to develop an ulcer.
Sampras maintained the image of a reserved and calm player throughout his career. A stark contrast to John McEnroe’s feisty and explosive personality, but Sampras believes that the two balance each other well.
The rivalry with Andre Agassi is one that Sampras zeroes in on- calling it “fierce” and “special”. Agassi is the best player Sampras will ever play against, and he will help drive Sampras to be a better player. Sampras will lose to Agassi in the 1995 Australian Open Final- his only loss against Agassi in a grand slam final. The older Pete tells himself to serve to the middle in order to be in a better position. One of the points he stresses is professionalism. Sampras wants there to be a mutual respect between the two and keeping everything strictly on the court. That way, it will be “one of the best (rivalries) the game will ever see.”
The rivalry with Andre Agassi is one that Sampras zeroes in on- calling it “fierce” and “special”. Agassi is the best player Sampras will ever play against, and he will help drive Sampras to be a better player. Sampras will lose to Agassi in the 1995 Australian Open Final- his only loss against Agassi in a grand slam final. The older Pete tells himself to serve to the middle in order to be in a better position. One of the points he stresses is professionalism. Sampras wants there to be a mutual respect between the two and keeping everything strictly on the court. That way, it will be “one of the best (rivalries) the game will ever see.”
The loss of Tim Gullikson- one of his closest friends- will be one of the most difficult things he’ll have to endure. Sampras suggests to his younger self that it’ll be best if he opens up and talks about the lost instead of letting it build. The emotions will be too overwhelming, and he’ll have a breakdown on the court.
Appreciation. One of the things he can improve. Appreciate your friends, wife, sisters, and parents, Sampras emphasizes. Sampras tells his younger self to enjoy the accomplishments and take advantage of his youth.
Sampras believes that doing things on “his own term” and “staying true to yourself” will be what brings success.
Appreciation. One of the things he can improve. Appreciate your friends, wife, sisters, and parents, Sampras emphasizes. Sampras tells his younger self to enjoy the accomplishments and take advantage of his youth.
Sampras believes that doing things on “his own term” and “staying true to yourself” will be what brings success.
The Words
Sampras uses practical wisdom as the basis of his argument. Heinrichs illustrates practical wisdom as a writer who “appears to know the right thing to do on every occasion” (p.57). As a writer, you want your audience to trust and believe that “you know your particular craft” (p 69). Sampras now knows how he should’ve approached his rising status based upon his reflection on his experiences and memories when he was younger.
Sampras’s use of practical wisdom resonates the relation between a mentor and his apprentice. Drawing from experiences of tremendous success at a young age, the older Sampras, the mentor, shares what he has learned and how to avoid making the mistake he made. Similar to a mentor, who prepares and instructs his apprentice in a particular craft.
Sampras’s use of practical wisdom resonates the relation between a mentor and his apprentice. Drawing from experiences of tremendous success at a young age, the older Sampras, the mentor, shares what he has learned and how to avoid making the mistake he made. Similar to a mentor, who prepares and instructs his apprentice in a particular craft.
“The more successful you are, the more people will want out of you,” Sampras writes, “Luckily, you be out of the game….before Twitter and Facebook come around.”
Sampras with the mindset of a mentor uses practical wisdom to offer input and advice to his teenage self. Writers who use practical wisdom are assumed to know what is the right thing to do at all times. This is justified by Sampras’s reflection on his career, what he knows now, and the sense of understanding that comes with age.
Sampras tries to convince his younger self to take approaches towards his mindset and methods by using argument. Argument is "persuasion”, as Heinrichs defines it, “ that tries to change your mood, your mind, or your willingness to do something" (p. 17). An argument has a purpose. The speaker tries to reach an agreement with the audience. Characteristics of an argument are the very opposite of the characteristics of a fight. In a fight the speaker tries to "dominate the enemy" (p. 16). Instead of working to suppress the audience's ideas, an argument is similar to a negotiation, because the speaker tries to work out any difference and persuade the audience to adapt the speaker's ideas. Sampras pools the various moments of his life and tries to work towards a resolution with himself in a respectful way.
The argument used can be compared to an advertisement. It tries to persuade and convince viewers to change their mood about what is being advertised. The goal is to make the audience take action as a result. The appeal to act or change is one of the most important aspects of advertisement.
“When you want to change someone’s mood,” Heinrichs presents, “tell a story” (p. 83). Which Sampras does many times as he reflects back on the early years of his career. Instead of criticizing and condemning his younger self, he suggests different approaches and offer many advices without trying to suppress but rather impress.
“When you want to change someone’s mood,” Heinrichs presents, “tell a story” (p. 83). Which Sampras does many times as he reflects back on the early years of his career. Instead of criticizing and condemning his younger self, he suggests different approaches and offer many advices without trying to suppress but rather impress.
Pathos was one of Sampras's highlight techniques. Pathos is considered "argument by emotions" (p. 46). It's "most important pathetic tactic is sympathy, registering concern for the audience's emotions and then changing the mood to suit the argument" (p. 46). The speaker must know how the audience really feels for pathos to be effective. If the speaker can sound sincere enough, the audience will respond to the proposition.
“I know you’re introverted and reserved. But this one’s too big for you to take on alone,” Sampras refers to the loss of a friend, “it’ll build up inside and come boiling over….and you’ll break down and cry right there on the court.”
Sampras uses pathos throughout his essay. It is a deeply personal and emotional essay. He sympathizes to his younger self when faced with frustration, disappointments, and heartbreak.
His tone is sincere, caring, and thoughtful. The use of the tool is similar to a chef using spices in a dish. A chef can use a small amount of spice, but that can entirely change the flavor of the dish. Just a sprinkle can have a drastic effect on the taste.
Since he is speaking to himself, Sampras does not have to exaggerate the emotional appeals he made, because it is the truth, which makes it highly effective. The speaker has to “build volume gradually” (p. 87). The more emotional statements were garnered towards the closing, because “emotion works best at the end” (p. 85). The spectrum of emotions that Sampras was able to draw from worked in favor for his arguments, because it ties back with decisions he made and why he made them at the time.
His tone is sincere, caring, and thoughtful. The use of the tool is similar to a chef using spices in a dish. A chef can use a small amount of spice, but that can entirely change the flavor of the dish. Just a sprinkle can have a drastic effect on the taste.
Since he is speaking to himself, Sampras does not have to exaggerate the emotional appeals he made, because it is the truth, which makes it highly effective. The speaker has to “build volume gradually” (p. 87). The more emotional statements were garnered towards the closing, because “emotion works best at the end” (p. 85). The spectrum of emotions that Sampras was able to draw from worked in favor for his arguments, because it ties back with decisions he made and why he made them at the time.
The Impact
Sampras had a remarkable career and held numerous accomplishments and records. Despite the things he wrote to himself about- what he wanted to do differently. He was able to hold his own in the spotlight amidst different issues that plagued his peer during their playing years. Agassi admitted to using drugs and McEnroe was notorious was his outrageous outburst on the court. Sampras remained the “modest” one. He was quiet and composed.
All of the things he wrote were well thought out and couldn’t have been expressed any better. The tone was touching and thoughtful. As I grow older, I believe that I can draw on the advice he gives to his younger self. I can relate to some of the issues he had navigating the fears and doubts about growing up.
Of course Sampras had more pressure put on him than I could ever imagine, but some of it can be related to growing into the person that we want to be and hoping that others around us are encouraging. There will be times when we fall and doubts settle. Sampras reassures that everything will work out in the end. Be yourself and do what you feel is right
Of course Sampras had more pressure put on him than I could ever imagine, but some of it can be related to growing into the person that we want to be and hoping that others around us are encouraging. There will be times when we fall and doubts settle. Sampras reassures that everything will work out in the end. Be yourself and do what you feel is right
You will make some mistakes along the way, but who doesn’t? That is how you grow up, you become the person you are by the experiences that shape you.
Appreciate the experiences and celebrate all the accomplishments along the way because “the journey truly is the reward."
Appreciate the experiences and celebrate all the accomplishments along the way because “the journey truly is the reward."