Sampras has memorabilia returned

Thursday, 24 March 2011 00:27 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Pete Sampras, a 14-time grand slam tennis champion and former world No.1, has had much of his memorabilia returned that had been stolen last November, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Lawyer Anthony Salerno, hired to help in the investigation, told the newspaper that he was contacted by another lawyer to say the trophies and other items would be returned with no further investigation or penalty expected.

Boxes of the memorabilia were found on Saturday morning at a hospital in suburban Marina del Rey and were turned over to the Los Angeles police for inventory.

Sampras had the items taken from a storage facility rental unit along with some furniture items while he and his wife, actress Bridgette Wilson, were moving.

Among the items Sampras reported stolen were two Davis Cup trophies, his six year-end world No.1 trophies, his first Australian Open trophy and an Olympic ring.

Other items taken included an autographed piano bench from Elton John and an autographed guitar from Carlos Santana.

Sampras retired in 2003, a year after beating Andre Agassi in the US Open final in the last match of his ATP career.