Former world No.1 tennis player Pete Sampras and his wife, Bridgette Wilson, a successful actress, have celebrated a blissful 24 years of marriage. The power couple is the proud parents of two children.
Pete and Bridgette started dating in late 1999 after the couple crossed paths during Pete’s injury layoff after suffering a leg injury at the RCA Championships in Indianapolis.
Thanks to the former Los Angeles Lakers Vice President of Public Relations, John Black, who introduced them to each other.
If not, it was Pete who asked John if he could put him in touch with the actress after seeing her star in Love Stinks while recovering from an injury.
Bridgette also boasts of being a beauty pageant queen after winning the title of Miss Teen USA in 1990, besides her triumphant acting career.
Pete and Bridgette Paid Homage to the Tennis Player’s Greek Lineage in Their Extravagant Wedding Ceremony, Attended by 80 Guests!
Pete revealed in his book A Champion’s Mind that their first meeting at an Italian restaurant was awkward, and they barely made eye contact.
The all-time great tennis player reminisced and unveiled several exclusive things about their first meeting in his book.
As destined as it sounds, he said, “There was a bright spot to that otherwise terrible late simmer; my injury was directly responsible for my wife and me meeting” in his book.
Likewise, as cliched as it may seem, the relationship blossomed into a strong connection in nearly no time.
Fast-forward to September 30, 2000, Pete and Bridgette married after dating for nine months.
Reportedly, the couple had a private, big-fat wedding in their California backyard, attended by their immediate friends and family of 80 attendees, including Wayne Gretzky.
The couple paid homage to Pete’s Greek lineage with the plate-cracking ceremony, which also included EGOT-winner Elton John’s 45-minute piano session.
The beautiful couple extended their family of two to three when their first son, Christian Charles Sampras, arrived on November 21, 2002.
Likewise, the family of three grew into four after a little over two years on July 29, 2005, when their second son, Ryan Nikolaos, was born.
The couple chose to step away from their successful careers to focus on raising their children, which speaks highly of their deep commitment to family.
Meanwhile, Pete and Bridgette remain away from the limelight, prioritizing their family over professional pursuits.
Bridgette revealed their parenting experience in June 2009, saying that we should give each other permission to adopt different parenting styles and adapt to each other’s differences.
Former Beauty Queen and Actress Bridgette Wilson Was Diagnosed With Ovarian Cancer in 2022!
The 52-year-old actress, Bridgette, born to her parents, Kathy and Dale Wilson, in Gold Beach, Oregon, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in December 2022.
Pete took to his Twitter to share the difficult news of his wife’s condition, showing his vulnerability, unlike the typical private person that he is.
He wrote,
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.
Since the diagnosis, Bridgette has had major surgery and a series of chemotherapy. Pete praised their son’s support during the difficult times.
The former ATP No.1 tennis player said,
It’s 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.
Likewise, Pete is nothing but proud of Bridgette’s resilience amid the ordeal.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Pete Sampras boasts winning a total of 14 Grand Slam singles titles, including a record seven Wimbledon titles, two Australian Opens, and five US Open titles.
- He was coached by Dr. Peter Fischer, a pediatrician and tennis enthusiast, until 1989.
- Pete and his brother Gus formed a management company called Sure Sports Management LLC.
- Pete is of mixed ethnicity born to a Greek father and Polish mother. His mother emigrated from Sparta, Greece, and his father was born in the United States to a Greek father and a Polish-Jewish mother.
