Former Tennis Star Pete Sampras Spotted in L.A. During Rare Public Appearance After Retirement Over 2 Decades Ago
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Pete Sampras, the former tennis star known as "Pistol Pete," was spotted during a rare public appearance on June 3
The athlete was seen while he made a coffee run in Beverly Hills
Sampras, who retired over two decades ago in 2002, is well-known as one of the greatest tennis players of all time
Pete Sampras was seen out and about during a rare public appearance.
The former tennis star, 53, was spotted making a coffee run in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Tuesday, June 3.
Sampras wore a dark gray Nike T-shirt and gray shorts while he carried two drinks in a beverage holder in one hand and a shopping bag in the other.
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The athlete was last seen publicly in December 2024. Before that, he made a rare public appearance at the 2019 BNP Paribas Open, where he played with Novak Djokovic in an exhibition match.
London Entertainment / SplashNews Pete Sampras on June 3.
Pete Sampras on June 3.
Sampras — also referred to as 'Pistol Pete' for his serve — is well-known as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
He began his professional tennis career in 1988, when he was 16 years old. Sampras retired in 2002 after winning a then-record 14 Grand Slam titles and ending the year ranked as the ATP No. 1 player in the world from 1993 to 1998.
The Hall-of-Famer, inducted in 2007, famously won seven Wimbledon titles, five U.S. Open championships and two Australian Opens over the course of his illustrious career.
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Dimitri Iundt/Corbis/VCG via Getty Pete Sampras in 1990
Pete Sampras in 1990
In recent years, Sampras has remained largely away from the public eye.
Back in October 2023, he revealed that his wife Bridgette Wilson-Sampras had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
In a statement released via the AP Tour on X, Sampras said, "As most have come to know, I am a pretty quiet and private person. However, this past year has been an exceptionally challenging time for my family, and I have decided to share what's been going on."
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"Last December, my wife, Bridgette, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer," Sampras continued at the time. "Since then, she has had major surgery, pushed through chemotherapy and continues with targeted maintenance therapy."
CAROL NEWSOM/AFP via Getty Pete Sampras after defeating Andre Agassi on Sept. 9, 1990
Pete Sampras after defeating Andre Agassi on Sept. 9, 1990
The tennis star further opened up about how "hard" it was to "watch someone you love go through a challenge like this," and praised the couple's sons, Christian and Ryan, for "stepping up" and being "such strong supporters" for their parents.
Sampras also shared praise for Wilson-Sampras in his statement, calling her an "incredible mom and wife through it all."
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Sampras has been with his wife, a former actress who starred in movies like I Know What You Did Last Summer and The Wedding Planner, since 1999.
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The couple was introduced by former Los Angeles Lakers Vice President of Public Relations John Black.
Sampras asked Black to connect him with Bridgette after seeing her in a film, which he shared in his 2008 book, A Champion's Mind.
'There was a bright spot to that otherwise terrible late summer — my injury was directly responsible for my wife and me meeting,' Sampras wrote. 'While I was hurt, I was watching this movie, Love Stinks, with a friend, John Black. Bridgette Wilson, an actress in the film, caught my eye. Actually, she blew me away when I saw her. I thought she was stunning.'
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