09 December,2010 07:38 AM IST | | Agencies
Says Sampras, after thieves steal trophies from former Wimbledon champion's storage
Pete Sampras, the tennis legend who won 14 Grand Slam titles, has been robbed of most of the trophies and memorabilia from his fabled career, the retired US star said.
Sampras had the objects including two Davis Cup trophies, his six year-end world number one trophies and an Olympic ring taken from a Los Angeles public storage rental unit.
Sampras said he still has 13 of his 14 Grand Slam singles championship trophies but added: "My first Australian Open trophy is gone and so is everything else."
"Losing this stuff is like having the history of my tennis life taken away," Sampras added.
"I'm not one to gloat about trophies, or show them off. I've never been like that. I just want them for my kids to see.
They didn't see me play, but I would like them to see these things. For me to have it for my kids is priceless."
Sampras stored the items after moving homes twice.
"I thought there were security cameras. I thought these things were locked up tight," Sampras said.
The theft took place three weeks ago and also included trophies from 64 tournament victories, magazine articles and newspaper clippings, an autographed piano bench from Elton John and an autographed guitar from Carlos Santana.
None of the items was insured, Sampras said, because there was no way to place a monetary value upon them.
"I just hope it hasn't already been destroyed," Sampras said. "That's why I wanted to get the word out now.
u00a0
I know this is a long shot, but I would regret it if I didn't at least try. Maybe somebody knows something. That's all I can hope for."
286
The number of weeks that he has been at the top of the ATP rankings, the most for any player.
Stolen
>1994 Australian men's singles championship trophy
>Trophies for 64 tour tournaments
>Five season-ending ATP World Tour titles
>11 ATP Masters event titles
>Olympic ring
>Seven ESPYs
>Six trophies awarded to the player who was No. 1
