When tennis legend Pete Sampras stepped out for coffee earlier this month, it was much more than just an errand for the 14-time Grand Slam champion.
The routine event represented an extremely rare public appearance for the American, who has been absent from the spotlight since his retirement in 2003.
There was another photographed trip to Starbucks last January, an appearance at Indian Wells in 2019 and a Nike event four years earlier, with the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova in attendance.
But aside from those moments and a few other exhibition games, we’ve barely seen or heard from Sampras in the last two decades.
So where has he been?
It is important to note that Sampras, even at the height of his powers as a player, was known for being notoriously reserved and averse to fame.
Pete Sampras, seen in 2011, has largely stepped away from the spotlight since retiring in 2003.
Sampras and his wife Bridgette Wilson married in 2000 and have two children together.
He has largely disappeared from public view since winning the 2002 US Open, his last tournament.
After winning the 2002 US Open (the last tournament of his career), he flew home to California and declined all media requests.
As Jon Wertheim of Sports Illustrated wrote in a 2021 profile of Sampras, for which he declined to be interviewed, the now 53-year-old “enjoyed press conferences, sponsor parties, promotional appearances and other duties that come with being a superstar, in the same way.” . way cats enjoy bathing.
The report would go on to say that after his retirement he spent ‘months’ without leaving his Beverly Hills mansion.
“Everyone has a different personality and I was more like Bjorn Borg or Stefan Edberg, the kind of role model where we keep our heads down and just play,” Sampras said to Steve Flinkauthor of a professional biography of the player.
“I was raised to be a tennis player, not to be a celebrity. That’s what I was.
That low-profile nature, both in and after his playing career, has perhaps been further emphasized by the more public lives of his American peers.
Andre Agassi became the subject of tabloids due to his relationship with actress Brooke Shields and his alleged high-profile affair with Barbra Streisand.
Meanwhile, a trio of players whose careers overlapped with Sampras (John McEnroe, his brother Patrick McEnroe and Jim Courier) have become respected analysts on television.
Sampras has avoided the waves and has no desire to train either.
“I don’t want to travel and be at these events for more than a couple of days,” the father of two said. he told CNN in 2016. ‘…I just don’t have the strength to push myself.’
Sampras, seen in 2006, has spent much of her time after retirement raising himself and his children Bridgette, Christian and Ryan.
Many of his appearances have been related to tennis. Here, he is seen playing an exhibition match with Novak Djokovic at the BNP Paribas Open 2019 in Indian Wells.
She is known to be in a relationship with Roger Federer, and the couple attended a Lakers game together in 2011.
True to form, many of Sampras’ appearances after his retirement have been tennis-related.
He faced Agassi at the BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden in 2011, attended the China Open the same year and was seen at the Australian Open in 2014. Sampras also participated in the International Premier League exhibition match Tennis (IPTL) in Dubai in 2014. .
Five years later, he would team up with Novak Djokovic for an exhibition doubles match in Indian Wells.
Even when he attended a Lakers-Bobcats game in 2011 and greeted coach Phil Jackson, Roger Federer was by his side.
He made a rare outing outside of tennis in 2010 when he attended the Cedars-Sinai Sports Spectacular for charity.
While Sampras has never enjoyed the spotlight (and has certainly stayed away from it during his retirement), those close to him have theorized that his private nature actually stemmed from confidence and belief in his playing ability, which was the only thing that really mattered to him.
“As uncomfortable as Pete seemed in public, I always had the feeling that he was as comfortable in his skin as anyone could be,” Todd Martin, who peaked at No. 4 in the world, told Sports Illustrated.
So how has Sampras been spending his time?
He and his wife, actress Bridgette Wilson (who has largely stopped acting since Sampras retired) have been raising their sons Christian and Ryan, who are now said to be 22 and 19 years old respectively.
He is also known for playing golf, cards with friends, or a casual game of tennis in his backyard, where he has a court.
As Wertheim said, Sampras’s retirement has been equally defined by what he No has to do, as the press conferences, practice sessions and other obligations of his playing career have faded.
“Every time I see him, he seems totally happy,” said Paul Annacone, Sampras’s longtime coach. “He has a very good perspective and vision about being a father and a husband, and he does what he wants.”
Sampras announced last year that his wife Bridgette was battling ovarian cancer.
Sampras posted a photo from this Nike event on Instagram in 2015. He hasn’t posted on social media since.
More recently, Sampras’ role as a husband came to light when he announced that Brigitte was battling ovarian cancer last year.
In a statement released through the ATP Tour, Sampras referred to his reserved nature and asked for prayers for his wife.
‘As most already know, I am a fairly quiet and reserved person. “However, the past year has been an exceptionally challenging time for my family and I have decided to share what has been happening,” she said.
‘Last December, my wife, Bridgette, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Since then, he has undergone major surgery, received chemotherapy, and continues targeted maintenance therapy.
‘It’s hard to see someone you love go through a challenge like this. However, seeing our guys step up and support Bridgette, myself and each other so strongly has been incredible. Watching Bridgette continue to be an incredible mother and wife despite everything has been inspiring.
‘I have also learned that it is very difficult to seek support when it is too difficult to talk about something. That being said, I am humbled to ask for kind thoughts and prayers for our family as Bridgette continues to thrive on her healing journey. Thank you.’
That statement, released in October 2023, was the last time Sampras spoke publicly, although he is also known to be inactive on social media (his last Instagram post was in 2015).
Hopefully, we’ll hear some positive news the next time he speaks.