Pete Sampras and Monica Seles, once tennis powerhouses, have now faded into the background. These tennis legends, along with others, have chosen to keep a low profile over the years.

Uncovering the Silent Exits of Tennis Greats

#1. Pete Sampras - The American Maestro

Pete Sampras is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players in American history. His career was nothing short of extraordinary, winning an astonishing 14 Grand Slam titles. This record stood until Roger Federer broke it in 2009. After winning the 2002 US Open by defeating Andre Agassi in the final, Sampras retired from tennis. Since then, he has participated in a few exhibition matches and attended some tournaments. However, he has managed to stay away from the media spotlight. The most recent news about him was in October last year when he announced that his wife Bridgette Wilson was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. This shows his ability to keep his personal life private while still being remembered for his on-court achievements.

#2. Monica Seles - The Yugoslavian Sensation

Monica Seles had an impressive career, winning nine Grand Slam singles titles, eight of which came during her teenage years. Her career was cut short due to a stabbing incident in Hamburg, which kept her out of the game for over two years. She played her last tennis match in 2003 and officially retired in 2008, after which she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Since her retirement, she has played a few exhibition matches but has mostly stayed away from the limelight. Her most recent tennis appearance was at the 2023 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, where she was in attendance to watch Carlos Alcaraz face Felix Auger-Aliassime. This highlights her continued interest in the sport despite not being actively involved.

#3. Jennifer Capriati - The Early Prodigy

Jennifer Capriati was one of the finest players of her era. At the age of 16, she had already become a Top-10 player and an Olympic medalist. However, she faced numerous setbacks during the 1990s, which affected her career. But she bounced back in the early 2000s, winning three Grand Slams and becoming the World No. 1. She retired from tennis in 2004 and five years later, was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. In 2013, she was charged with stalking and battery after an incident with an ex-boyfriend, but the charges were dropped. Since then, her only notable appearance was at the 2018 WTA Finals. She has managed to keep a low profile, with not much being heard or said about her in recent years.

#4. Stefan Edberg - The Serve-and-Volley Master

Stefan Edberg was one of the greatest exponents of serve-and-volley. He won six Grand Slams, two each at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. He called it quits on his illustrious career in 1996. Since retirement, his most notable tennis involvement was when he served as Roger Federer's coach. However, compared to some other players from his generation, he has not been in the media radar as much. He was most recently present at this year's ATP Finals in Turin and also attended the Wimbledon final. He was previously at the 2022 Paris Masters final, where he presented the title to Holger Rune. This shows his continued connection with the sport even after his playing days.

#5. Evonne Goolagong Cawley - The Australian Great

Evonne Goolagong Cawley is one of the greatest tennis players to come out of Australia. She had a stellar career, winning seven Grand Slam singles titles. She retired from tennis in 1983 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1988. Over 40 years have passed since her retirement, and she has not been as much in the limelight as some other players. In tennis circles, she has made appearances in several editions of the Australian Open, where she has either brought out the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup or presented the trophy to the winners. This year, she brought out the women's trophy to start Day 1 of the Melbourne Major alongside Andre Agassi, showing her continued association with the sport.