Latest news with #PeteSampras
Economist
a day ago
- Sport
- Economist
Six books about tennis's greatest players
FOR TWO WEEKS every year, tennis fans focus their attention on a leafy suburb in south-west London. The Wimbledon Championships are regarded as the most traditional and prestigious of the four Grand Slam tournaments. (It is the only one to enforce a predominantly all-white dress code, for instance.) Wimbledon is a place where new stars of the game are spotted—as with Roger Federer's victory over Pete Sampras in 2001—and fading ones hope to go out in a blaze of glory. To better understand what it takes to succeed on Centre Court, pick up one of these books about a few of the greatest players ever to pick up a racket.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wimbledon 2025: Anniversaries for Serena Williams, Arthur Ashe, Isner-Mahut and COVID
FILE - Security guards at the entrance in front of Centre Court at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon in London, Monday, June 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth,File) FILE - John Isner of the US and France's Nicolas Mahut, right, pose for a photo next to the scoreboard following their epic men's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, Thursday, June 24, 2010. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant,Pool,File) FILE - Pete Sampras kisses the trophy, after defeating Australia's Patrick Rafter in the Men's Singles final on the Center Court at Wimbledon Sunday, July 9, 2000. (AP Photo/Dave Caulkin,File) FILE - In this July 7, 1990, file photo, Martina Navratilova fights back tears as she poses with her record ninth ladies singles championship trophy at Wimbledon, after defeating Zina Garrison 6-4, 6-1. (AP Photo/Roy Letkey, FIle) FILE - Tennis player Anne White of the U.S. is shown in a tight fitting body suit, which she has been banned from wearing in her resumed match against fellow American Pam Shriver, June 28, 1985. (AP Photo/Seelan Naidoo,File) FILE - Sweden's Bjorn Borg falls to his knees in front of the scoreboard on the Centre Court, Wimbledon, London, July 5, 1980, after beating American John McEnroe, unseen, 1-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-7, 8-6, to take the Mens' Singles Final for the fifth year in succession. (AP Photo/Robert Dear) FILE - In this July 5, 1975, file photo, Arthur Ashe holds the men's singles trophy after defeating fellow American Jimmy Conners in the final of the men's singles championship at the All England Lawn Tennis Championship in Wimbledon, London. (AP Photo/File) FILE - Serena Williams of the United States reacts as she holds up the trophy after winning the women's singles final against Garbine Muguruza of Spain, at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin,File) FILE - Serena Williams of the United States reacts as she holds up the trophy after winning the women's singles final against Garbine Muguruza of Spain, at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin,File) FILE - Security guards at the entrance in front of Centre Court at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon in London, Monday, June 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth,File) FILE - John Isner of the US and France's Nicolas Mahut, right, pose for a photo next to the scoreboard following their epic men's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, Thursday, June 24, 2010. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant,Pool,File) FILE - Pete Sampras kisses the trophy, after defeating Australia's Patrick Rafter in the Men's Singles final on the Center Court at Wimbledon Sunday, July 9, 2000. (AP Photo/Dave Caulkin,File) FILE - In this July 7, 1990, file photo, Martina Navratilova fights back tears as she poses with her record ninth ladies singles championship trophy at Wimbledon, after defeating Zina Garrison 6-4, 6-1. (AP Photo/Roy Letkey, FIle) FILE - Tennis player Anne White of the U.S. is shown in a tight fitting body suit, which she has been banned from wearing in her resumed match against fellow American Pam Shriver, June 28, 1985. (AP Photo/Seelan Naidoo,File) FILE - Sweden's Bjorn Borg falls to his knees in front of the scoreboard on the Centre Court, Wimbledon, London, July 5, 1980, after beating American John McEnroe, unseen, 1-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-7, 8-6, to take the Mens' Singles Final for the fifth year in succession. (AP Photo/Robert Dear) FILE - In this July 5, 1975, file photo, Arthur Ashe holds the men's singles trophy after defeating fellow American Jimmy Conners in the final of the men's singles championship at the All England Lawn Tennis Championship in Wimbledon, London. (AP Photo/File) FILE - Serena Williams of the United States reacts as she holds up the trophy after winning the women's singles final against Garbine Muguruza of Spain, at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin,File) LONDON (AP) — A look at some of the anniversaries this year at Wimbledon: 50 years ago (1975): Arthur Ashe and Billie Jean King win Wimbledon Arthur Ashe became the first — and to this day, only — Black man to win the singles title at Wimbledon in 1975, beating defending champion Jimmy Connors 6–1, 6–1, 5–7, 6–4 in the final. Also that year, Billie Jean King easily won her sixth — and, it turned out, last — singles championship at the All England Club, defeating Evonne Goolagong 6-0, 6-1. It also was the 19th of the 20 total Wimbledon trophies (across singles, women's doubles and mixed doubles) that King would win. Advertisement 45 years ago (1980): Bjorn Borg collects his 5th Wimbledon title in a row Bjorn Borg earned his fifth consecutive Wimbledon trophy in 1980, barely getting past rival John McEnroe 1–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–7 (16), 8–6 in a final immediately — and still — considered one of the greatest tennis matches of all time. The fourth-set tiebreaker alone, known as The War of 1816, is still discussed with reverence. 40 years ago (1985): Anne White's white bodysui t at the All England Club Anne White showed up for her first-round Wimbledon match in 1985 against Pam Shriver wearing a full white bodysuit that drew plenty of attention — and criticism. After they split the first two sets, play was called because of darkness. During the break, White was told that the All England Club did not love her original outfit, even if it did comply with the all-white rule, and she wound up wearing more traditional clothing for the third set when action resumed the next day. Shriver won the match. Advertisement 35 years ago (1990): Martina Navratilova wins her 9th Wimbledon trophy A 6-4, 6-1 victory over Zina Garrison in the 1990 final gave Martina Navratilova her record ninth Wimbledon championship. It also was her 18th and last Grand Slam title, equaling rival Chris Evert for the Open era record at the time. 25 years ago (2000): Pete Sampras gets 7th Wimbledon, 13th Slam title Pete Sampras' 2000 Wimbledon title, via a 6–7 (10), 7–6 (5), 6–4, 6–2 victory over Patrick Rafter in the final, gave the American his seventh, and last, trophy at the All England Club and his then-record 13th title from all Grand Slam tournaments. Sampras would win his 14th major at the 2002 U.S. Open, then walk away from the sport. That stood as the men's record until Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic all surpassed it. Advertisement 15 years ago (2010): Isner and Mahut play a 70-68 fifth set at Wimbledon John Isner and Nicolas Mahut played the longest tennis match on record at Wimbledon in 2010, competing for 11 hours, 5 minutes stretched across three days in the first round at the All England Club, until Isner eventually prevailed 70-68 in the fifth set. That was part of the impetus for rules changes that eventually mandated tiebreakers at 6-all in fifth sets of men's matches (and third sets of women's matches) at all four Grand Slam tournaments. 10 years ago (2015): Williams gets a 'Serena Slam' as oldest major champ Serena Williams completed her second self-styled 'Serena Slam' — four Grand Slam titles in a row, although not all within a single season — by winning Wimbledon in 2015. Her 6-4, 6-4 victory over Garbiñe Muguruza in the final made the 33-year-old Williams the oldest woman to win a major singles championship in the Open era. It also set up Williams for a bid at a true Grand Slam — going 4 for 4 at the majors within one calendar year — at the U.S. Open later in 2015. She fell just short, losing to Roberta Vinci in a stunning upset in the semifinals in New York. Advertisement 5 years ago (2020): Wimbledon is canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic Wimbledon was called off in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the first time since World War II that the oldest Grand Slam tennis tournament wasn't held. The cancellation was announced in April, with Britain under a nationwide lockdown. Roger Federer offered a one-word commentary on social media, writing simply: 'Devastated.' ___ Howard Fendrich has been the AP's tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: More AP tennis:
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Tennis icon is completely unrecognizable as he's spotted for first time in months... as insider reveals why he gave up on fame
A tennis legend appeared unrecognizable while stepping out in Beverly Hills this week as an inside source revealed he enjoys the 'anonymity he is blessed with.' The 53-year-old former professional used to take center stage on court, amassing a staggering 14 Grand Slam titles throughout a decorated 15-year career. Yet, in the two decades since putting his racket down, fans have only caught fleeting glimpses of Pete Sampras - including this week. In exclusive Daily Mail photos, the American was captured making a rare public appearance on Tuesday when he was seen on a coffee run in the iconic Los Angeles neighborhood, proving tough to recognize. Plainly dressed in loose-fitting grey workout clothes and green Nike sneakers, Sampras was pictured clutching a Starbucks drinks carrier containing two iced coffees and a hot beverage as he kept his head down. The public sighting, which came amid the French Open - one of tennis's four Grand Slam and the only one to elude Sampras - is just the second in seven months after he was spotted carrying out a similar errand in Beverly Hills back in December. The tennis legend cut a casual figure as he carried out a coffee run in the LA neighborhood But the balding former athlete already looked strikingly different, as he debuted a new salt-and-pepper beard and fuller sideburns. The rare sightings aren't unusual for Sampras as an inside source revealed to the Daily Mail that the 'homebody' has actively shielded himself from the lifestyle of the rich and the famous since officially retiring from tennis in 2003. 'Pete has always shied away from taking on all the benefits of being a celebrity as he has always considered himself a tennis player and a regular dude,' the insider said. 'He loves being a homebody and only selectively is he seen when he goes out, and he loves it. He loves being able to visit his sisters and brother who he is very close with and just more about being a husband and a father and just taking things day by day. 'Through tennis, Pete learned that you have to be your own person to succeed, and that is how he treats life, being his own person and allowing only a few people to surround him in his everyday life. It is what has worked for him for decades and he isn't looking to change anytime soon. He enjoys the more than expected anonymity he is blessed with.' Aside from his photographed routine coffee runs, Sampras has only stepped back into the public eye on limited occasions. He made an appearance at Indian Wells in 2019, and at a Nike event four years prior, with the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova all present. Sampras is notoriously private and undertakes very little TV work - usually opting to stay out of the spotlight and keep his personal life to himself. The five-time US Open Champions has endured a past couple of years as he revealed in October 2023 that his wife was battling ovarian cancer. In a statement to the ATP Tour, the American legend 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. 'Last December, my wife, Bridgette, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Since then, she has had major surgery, pushed through chemotherapy and continues with targeted maintenance therapy. 'It is hard to watch someone you love go through a challenge like this. However, seeing our boys step up and be such strong supporters of Bridgette, myself and each other has been amazing.' He and Bridgette have two children from their 25-year marriage - Ryan and Christian - and the family still reside in California. Bridgette, a former Miss Teen USA, is an actress and singer who starred in the likes of the 1997 slasher 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' and also had a role in 'The Wedding Planner' alongside Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey. Even at the height of his playing powers, Sampras was known to be notoriously private and fame-averse. After winning the 2002 US Open (the last tournament of his career), he flew home to California and declined all media requests. He has been said to have loathed press conferences and promotional appearances and even in retirement would rarely leave his Beverly Hills mansion. In contrast, Sampras's greatest rival Andre Agassi became tabloid fodder due to his relationship with actress Brooke Shields and high-profile alleged affair with Barbra Streisand. Meanwhile, a trio of players whose careers Sampras overlapped with - John McEnroe, his brother Patrick McEnroe and Jim Courier - have all gone on to be respected analysts on TV. During his career, Sampras was the best player in the world and has two Australian Open titles, five US Opens, and an incredible seven Wimbledon wins. He has 64 career singles titles in total - the ninth best in the Open Era - and earned himself over $43million in prize money throughout his career. He retired officially in the summer of 2003, going on to periodically appear in exhibition matches in the years that followed. After the birth of their second son in 2005, both Sampras and his wife Bridgette both stepped away from the limelight to focus on family life.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former Tennis Star Pete Sampras Spotted in L.A. During Rare Public Appearance After Retirement Over 2 Decades Ago
NEED TO KNOW 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 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." Advertisement "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." Advertisement 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 PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! 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.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former Tennis Star Pete Sampras Spotted in L.A. During Rare Public Appearance After Retirement Over 2 Decades Ago
NEED TO KNOW 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 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." Advertisement "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." Advertisement 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 PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! 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.' Read the original article on People
