Pete Sampras called Michael Stich one of the smoothest servers and scariest opponents he's ever faced.
Stich, who won five of nine meetings with Sampras, and former doubles world No. 1 Helena Sukova will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame's Classic of 2018 on Saturday in Newport.
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The 6'4" German defeated three Hall of Famers in succession—Jim Courier, Stefan Edberg and German rival Boris Becker—to win the 1991 Wimbledon championship.
Stich says mental strength and commitment are the qualities that set Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Sampras apart as iconic champions.
"To win a major is the biggest achievement in our sport," Stich told the International Tennis Hall of Fame. "And obviously every player dreams of [winning a major]. If you win one, well you got it, and no one can take it away from you.
"But once you did it, it just takes off the focus a little bit because you have achieved one of the biggest goals in our sport.
"That's why I have so much respect for players like Rafael Nadal, like Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, John [McEnroe] and all those guys because they kept going and going and going to win more and more Grand Slams. And it takes so much mental strength to be able to do that."
Photo credit/video credit: International Tennis Hall of Fame