Pete Sampras Spotted in L.A. During Rare Public Appearance After Retirement

Published: June 8, 2025

Former tennis star Pete Sampras, also known as "Pistol Pete," was recently spotted on a coffee run in Beverly Hills, marking a rare public appearance after his retirement over two decades ago.

The Athlete's Rare Sighting

Sampras, 53, was seen wearing a dark gray Nike T-shirt and gray shorts while carrying two drinks in a beverage holder in one hand and a shopping bag in the other. This rare sighting took place on Tuesday, June 3, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

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.

A Tennis Legend

Sampras 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.

Personal Life

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."

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. The couple was introduced by former Los Angeles Lakers Vice President of Public Relations John Black.

Read more about Pete Sampras' wife, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, in our article: Miley Cyrus Heckled by Fans During Film Premiere, Ends Up Singing Impromptu A Cappella Rendition of 'The Climb"'

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