"I'm ecstatic about getting married and marrying her" - When Pete Sampras opened up about wife Bridgette being the 'rock' of his life
Pete Sampras has always spoken fondly of his wife, Bridget Wilson. In past interviews, he’s shared how excited he was to marry her, calling it a defining moment in his life. Over 20 years later, their bond remains solid, proving that their love has stood the test of time.
Sampras and Wilson, a well-known former actress and singer, began dating in 1999. Their relationship kicked off after Sampras saw her in the film Love Stinks while he was recovering from an injury. Impressed bby her, he asked a friend to set up an introduction, and their bond grew from there.
The power couple tied the knot in September 2000, choosing an intimate ceremony in the backyard of their Beverly Hills home. They later welcomed two sons, Christian, born in 2002, and Ryan, born in 2005.
Ahead of their wedding, Pete Sampras expressed his excitement during a 2000 interview with The New York Times. When asked if marriage would change his life, he casually brushed off the notion. He said he didn’t think it would affect much, adding that while his personal responsibilities might shift, his professional life would remain largely unchanged.
“I don't think so. It might change my life off the court. You know, responsibilities to my wife or my kids. But when I play and practice and train, it will be the same. So I don't see a big change as far as that's concerned,” he said.
The American added:
“She [my fiancée] was my rock for these two weeks. She was just there for me to talk you. She kept me together; she really did. Obviously, I'm ecstatic about getting married and marrying her, and living our lives together and having a family one day. I'm marrying the right girl.”
Pete Sampras’ comments came shortly after he clinched his 13th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, where he defeated Pat Rafter in the final.
Pete Sampras retired from tennis 3 years after his marriage to Bridgette Wilson
Pete Sampras played his final professional match at the 2002 US Open, where he won his last Grand Slam title against Andre Agassi. He officially announced his retirement the following year, in 2003.
Sampras’ legendary career included winning an impressive 14 Grand Slam titles. He also held the World No. 1 ranking for a total of 286 weeks, along with many other remarkable achievements.
Currently, he and his wife largely stay out of the limelight and rarely make public appearances. They’ve been going through a tough time since Sampras revealed two years ago that Wilson was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.