 In the year's first major, the Australian Open, the top-seeded Sampras lost to the unseeded Mark Philippoussis 6-4, 7-6(11–9), 7-6(7–3) in the tournament's third round.Sampras had what would end up being his best run ever at that year's French Open, losing in a semifinal match to the eventual winner, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, 7-6(7–4), 6-0, 6-2.In the eight Wimbledons inclusive between 1993 and 2000, 1996 was the only year that Sampras would fail to win the championship at Wimbledon.