In career prize money alone he has won over $38 million. Now at 28 years of age it is no secret that Pete Sampras is driven by things other than the size of the cheque. With a total of 61 titles in the 1990s and one Grand Slam away from becoming the all-time leader in major singles titles, Sampras has little reason for the hang-dog demeanor.

Probably the best grass player in the history of the game, Roy Emerson's 12 Grand Slam titles is now the only hurdle in the way of Sampras elevating himself onto a unique pedestal. Nobody has ever won 13 majors.

But balancing on the cusp of greatness has brought its own pressures and in recent months Sampras has demonstrated he can no longer guarantee bringing his "A" game to the court.

That is an issue which is of some comfort to several hopefuls who find themselves on the same side of the draw as the number one seed this week.

Most, however, believe the American can only lose Wimbledon. The standard of play in last year's final when he defeated Andre Agassi showed that while Sampras may be less dominant throughout a year than he has been in the past, he can still occasionally raise his game to close to perfection.

The defeat in this year's Queen's tournament final by Australian teenager Lleyton Hewitt and his early departure from the French Open at Roland Garros may also have indicated that the six Wimbledon Championships, four US Opens and two Australian Open titles count for little.

While supporters will point to the Queen's event as a three-set contest and much more of a lottery than Wimbledon's five, his all-round grass game is still unmatched. Hewitt prefers the back of the court, as does Agassi and French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten.

Kuerten, because of his weak volleying, must surely be discounted as a candidate while Agassi each year has to keep revisiting the same reservoir of motivation and high-pitch energy.

Odds are once more with the big-serve-and-volley players with Agassi, Hewitt and Kuerten destined to play the usual colourful supporting role. The others who advanced in France with their backcourt games probably won't figure at all.

Mark Philippoussis must surely rank as a possible and Patrick Rafter's athleticism will take him close leaving history-chasing Sampras the principal block in the face of what could be a strong Australian charge.