In Pictures: Pete Sampras steps back in the public eye with rare excursion, a year after going viral for his 'unrecognizable' appearance

Tennis legend Pete Sampras recently made a rare public appearance for a coffee run. The American, known for his private lifestyle, was spotted carrying a tray of coffee cups in his first sighting nearly a year after making waves for controversial reasons during a similar outing.

In a heartbreaking revelation last year, Sampras shared the news of his wife Bridgette Wilson's ovarian cancer diagnosis. The American opened up about the difficult challenges their family faced, disclosing that Wilson had undergone major surgery and chemotherapy and was receiving targeted maintenance therapy to combat the illness.

"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 said in a statement to the ATP Tour.

"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," he added.

The former World No. 1 praised their sons, Christian Charles and Ryan Nikolaos, who have largely grown up away from the public eye, for being strong pillars of support for him and Wilson. Sampras also credited his wife for continuing to be an "incredible mom" despite her battle with cancer.

Just a month later, Pete Sampras found himself in the headlines for unfortunate reasons when the Daily Mail US labeled him "completely unrecognizable" during a coffee run in California, where the 14-time Grand Slam champion resides with his family.

The controversial headline sparked immense backlash from the tennis community, with Serena Williams' ex-coach Rennae Stubbs denouncing the coverage as "pathetic."

Pete Sampras recently made another rare public appearance, stepping out in a gray Nike T-shirt, in a nod to the brand that served as his apparel and shoe sponsor in his prime. The American also donned black sunglasses while grabbing a tray of iced coffees from Starbucks.

Pete Sampras' enduring legacy in tennis evident in his influence on Taylor Fritz

Pete Sampras (Source: Getty)

Although Pete Sampras retired from professional tennis in 2002, his influence on the sport still lingers. Taylor Fritz credited the 14-time Grand Slam champion as an inspiration during the 2024 ATP Finals, disclosing that he modeled his serve after the former World No. 1.

Fritz also shares a special personal connection with "his idol," with Sampras surprising him with a cake on his 18th birthday during a hitting session at a 2015 ATP Challenger Tour event in Monterrey.

"It was just really cool. I went from thinking, 'Oh, he cancelled the hit,' it was a regular practice... to now this is my idol, on my 18th birthday, hitting with me, warming me up for the match and then giving me the cake. It was pretty cool," Fritz said in a 2018 interview.

Pete Sampras also lavished praise on Taylor Fritz, backing his younger compatriot to have a "great future" owing to his "right attitude and willingness to learn and listen."