 Nevertheless, Sampras finished the year as the top-ranked player for the sixth year in a row.The year started with a withdrawal from the Australian Open and Sampras failed to win a title during the early part of the season.However, he then went on a 24-match winning streak, including the Stella Artois Championships, Wimbledon (equaling Roy Emerson's record of 12 Grand Slam singles titles), Los Angeles, and Cincinnati (a rematch of last year's final with Patrick Rafter).