By Kim Douglass

(December 9, 2010) After hearing the distressing news about Pete Sampras stolen memorabilia, the International Tennis Federation, ITF, has extended a hand to the retired player, offering a replica trophy from his two Davis Cup wins.


The Los Angeles Times reported, Dec. 7, that the former no.1 was robbed of the majority of his trophies won over his 12 year career. Amongst the items taken were trophies from his first Australian Open title in addition to the two from his Davis Cup victories.


A now-retired Sampras told the news paper that he stills has 13 of his Grand Slam Awards, but lost “everything else,” in the robbery at the West Los Angeles storage facility.


In a statement, president of the ITF Francesco Ricci Bitti said, “We were sorry to learn of the theft…We know how special a Davis Cup victory is for a player, and if he is unable to recover the loss of his two Davis Cup trophies we would like to offer him a replica trophy in recognition of his outstanding record in the event.”


The 14 time major champion holds a record that is second in men’s tennis history to Roger Federer’s, holding 16 major victories. Sampras won the Davis Cup, the ITF’s elite team competition for men, with the U.S. in 1992 and 1995 with victories over Switzerland and Russia, respectively.


Australian Open organizers also expressed their regret about the theft. Sampras won the first of his two Australian Open titles in 1994. In a statement to Bloomberg London, tournament director Craig Tiley said, “We have been in touch with the Sampras camp overnight just to see if there is anything we can do…We are keen to help out one of our great champions in whatever way we can…. “It is a very valuable trophy but its worth goes far beyond dollars and cents,” Tiley said.