"I thought about throwing punches with Sampras, but someone stopped us": Former World No.1 Marcelo Rios nearly came to blows in heated rivalry with Pete Sampras
Tennis NewsSaturday, 25 November 2023 at 12:10
Marcelo
Rios revealed that he was on the verge of getting into a physical fight with
Pete Sampras after an exhibition match.
The Chilean
former world No. 1 experienced his peak in the late 90s, reaching world No. 1
in 1998 at the age of 22. However, he struggled to maintain enough consistency
on the tour and spent only a total of six weeks at the top. Marcelo Rios
retired at the age of 29 due to injuries and later participated in a series of
exhibitions, including one in Santiago, Chile, against the 14-times Grand Slam
champion Pete Sampras.
Rios
recently spoke in an interview with CHV and discussed the little-known
altercation he had with Sampras in 2008, offering his opinion on the American
player:
"Stupid,
a fool. Silly, he's silly. I had a fight with him. (...). Almost boxing, we
almost boxed each other. In the exhibition we did in Chile, when the match
ended, he sends for me to talk, and that's where the mess started.”
“It wasn't about
getting along; it was something he said to me. It bothered me, I let him know,
and it bothered him. He tried to continue being the Sampras he used to be,
which, in my opinion, he's no longer. I told him, 'For me, you're not the
Sampras you used to be; for me, you're ‘Pedro.’ That's when the fight started,"
he said.
"What
happened is that at the beginning of the exhibition, there are times when you
arrange the matches; you win the first set, I win the second, and then we play
the third set one-on-one."
“So, when
he called me to the locker room, I told him, 'you're not Pete Sampras anymore.'
I told him, ‘Before, when I came to ask you what we should do, you should have
told me let's play one-on-one, done, and everything would have been fine,” former
world No. 1 said.
“But now,
don't come and tell me that because I beat you, you're upset.' That's when the
whole fight started. The guy who organized the exhibition arrived and stopped
us before, separated us, but it would have been good. Hitting Sampras is Good,"
the Chilean former tennis player added.
Rios
claimed victory in front of his home crowd with a scoreline of 3-6, 6-3, and
7-6 (4). In their professional careers, Sampras and Rios faced each other
twice, with both victories going to the North American player.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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