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By Scoop Malinowski

Lleyton Hewitt: With his emotional fighting spirit and animated celebrations, the Aussie wonder changed the sport and inspired many imitators who used emotional adrenaline and colorful animated celebrations. Also go to any major junior tournament like Eddie Herr and you may here over 500 come ons on any given day.

Andre Agassi: The flamboyant American introduced colorful costumes and image recreations to the sport. Though his playing style was rather basic and fundamental outside of his ferocious forehand, Agassi exuded a charisma and flashy style that attracted many new fans to the sport.

Pete Sampras: His quiet, low-key competitive style may have fooled more than a few into thinking he was lackadaisical but underneath the stoic facade was burning inferno with a freakish drive to win. His very first ATP opponent in Philadelphia, Sammy Giammalva Jr summed up Sampras best in Facing Sampras, “I think Pete transformed – in a subtle, silent way – the attitude of the game and the attitude of the best players.”

Anna Kournikova: The first and most transcending tennis beauty who captivated male attention all over the world. Far more known for her physical appeal, and countless endorsements and sponsors, Kournikova was also a very good player, reaching the semis of Wimbledon, the top ten, and major doubles titles.

Marcelo Rios: The first South American to be no. 1 in the world, inspired many south American players to see that it’s possible to reach the top of tennis. Gaudio, Coria, Massu, Fernando Gonzalez, Guga Kuerten, among others, were all inspired by the amazing early success of Rios who is often praised by Roger Federer as being one of his favorite players.

Michael Chang: Pioneer of Asian success in elite pro tennis and also the first of the American Big Four to win a Grand Slam major title at age 17 in Paris. Sampras, Courier and Agassi soon followed up Chang’s success with more major titles for America.

Victor Estrella Burgos: Possibly the all-time most inspiring player in tennis history. The extraordinary Dominican struggled for over a decade as a sub journeyman, with repeated failures to get through major qualifying rounds or any positive results on the ATP World Tour. Until age 33 he suddenly found success and made the third round at US Open main draw, the top 100 and eventually became an ATP main tour regular, even winning three successive ATP singles titles in Quito, Ecuador. The example of Estrella Burgos showed in astounding manner that no player should ever give up his or her dream, and that even after age 32, their best tennis and best results could be ahead. Estrella Burgos holds the record for being the oldest player in tennis history to enter the top 100 rankings at age 33.

Felisimo Ampong: This Filipino wonder stood only five feet tall. But pound for pound, inch for inch he was an ultra talented player who still gets high praises from his peers like Roy Emerson, Fred Stolle.

Lendl and Navratilova: Both of these hard-working, extremely driven Czechoslovakians took tennis fitness to new heights.

Thomas Muster: All you have to do is think of the video of Thomas Muster playing tennis with a broken leg, while sitting in a custom built chair. Muster eventually got up from that handicap and won Roland Garros and became no. 1 in the world.

Jennifer Capriati: The most inspiring player in women’s tennis history. The highly touted teenager eventually derailed her own career due to extreme pressure and expectations to fulfill her potential. After a long hiatus to rebuild herself, Capriati achieved her greatest success.

Venus and Serena: Never could anyone ever have imagined that the sport of kings, the sport of grace could ever include a kid from one of the most underprivileged areas in the United States, let alone two sisters from the Compton section of Los Angeles. The Williams sisters are two miracles, as is their father and coach Richard Williams who dared to have a dream. Since the Williams achieved professional tennis success, there have been hundreds of other black teenagers inspired but their extraordinary examples.

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