Pete Sampras, owner of an unsurpassed 14 Grand Slam singles titles, will make his retirement from tennis official on Monday, when he will be honoured in a ceremony at the US Open, organizers confirmed Thursday.

Sampras said in July that he would not defend his US Open title, a decision widely seen at the time as virtual confirmation that he would not return to tennis.

The 32-year-old American hasn't played since he claimed his fifth US Open title with a victory over old foe Andre Agassi in the final last year.

"Not being at the Open this year, which I'm going to pull out of, and not playing Wimbledon hasn't made me miss tennis enough to really start training, start practising, doing everything I have to do to be where I want to be," Sampras said last month. "This tells me it's a sign to say, 'It's probably time'. I miss it, but it's time probably to give up."

A statement released Thursday by International Management Group said that Sampras would hold a press conference on Monday, which would be followed by a special ceremony, the details of which will be released by the US Tennis Association.

"We're excited that Pete's going to come back, and it will be a night for Pete and his fans," a USTA spokesman said.

The US Open has been the sight of some of Sampras' greatest triumphs. His first victory there in 1990 made him the youngest ever men's champion at 19 years and 28 days, and his most recent was at the age of 31.

In addition to his five US Open singles titles, Sampras won seven Wimbledon singles titles in eight years and two Australian Open crowns.

When he won Wimbledon in 2000, Sampras broke a tie with Roy Emerson for the most Grand Slam singles titles in history.

The top-ranked player for most of the 1990s, Sampras has won 64 singles titles, has a career record of 762-222 and has earned more than 43 million dollars in prize money.

Mark Miles, chief executive of the ATP, Thursday hailed Sampras as a model athlete.

"His passion for excellence and dedication to success make him a model athlete that will be celebrated for generations to come," Miles said. "Sampras may be retiring from professional tennis, but his legacy will carry on."

Certainly, Sampras' departure is far from unexpected.

Even in the afterglow of his triumph over Agassi at Flushing Meadows last year, Sampras was clearly feeling the lure of life after tennis.

"To beat a rival like Andre in a major, at the US Open, a storybook ending. It might be nice to stop," he said then.

"But," the Sampras of a year ago couldn't help adding, "I still want to compete."

The will to compete, however, hasn't proven strong enough as Sampras withdrew from tournament after tournament this year.

In announcing his decision in May to skip the French Open and Wimbledon, Sampras he knew he didn't have what it took to be the best.

Once focused with laser-like intensity on tennis, Sampras now has more things in his life to contemplate.

He and his wife, actress Bridgette Wilson, had their first child, Christian, last November.

Born: August 12, 1971

Height: 1.85m

Residence: Los Angeles, USA

Turned pro: 1988

Plays: Right-handed

Grand Slam singles titles: 14

Career titles: 64

Years at No. 1: 6

Weeks at No. 1: 286

Career prize money: 43 million dollars

Career highlights

- Appeared in at least one Grand Slam final for 11 consecutive years (1992-2002), winning in eight straight (1993-2000)

- He and Ken Rosewall are the only men to win Grand Slam titles as a teenager, in their 20s and in their 30s

- Won at least one title for 11 straight years (1990-2000) and 12 of 13 (except 2001)

- Captured Tennis Masters Cup (ATP World Championship) five times in Germany (1991, '94, '96-97, '99)

- Compiled a 19-9 career Davis Cup record (15-8 in singles) and member of winning teams in 1992 and '95

- Won a career-high 10 titles and compiled a personal-best 29-match winning streak in 1994.

- Won a career-best 85 matches in 1993 and on April 12 became 11th player in history of ATP Rankings to hold No. 1 ranking

- Youngest US Open men's champion at 19 years, 28 days in 1990.

- Only player to finish No. 1 on the ATP Rankings for six consecutive years (1993-98)

- Compiled a 40-2 match record on Centre Court at Wimbledon and 63-7 overall at All England Club.

- With seventh Wimbledon title in 2000 surpassed Roy Emerson (12) for most Grand Slam singles titles in history

- ATP Player of the Year six straight years from 1993-98

- US Olympic Committee "Sportsman of the Year," first tennis player to receive award, in 1997