Pete Sampras news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Pete Sampras, retired since 2002, returned as a Kalshi spokesman in a US Open ad campaign.
The backlash centers on a 14-time major champion promoting a betting platform.
Background
Sampras retired in 2002 and had stayed largely out of the public eye for over two decades, giving no interviews, commentary or coaching. He resurfaced in a US Open promotional campaign as a spokesman for Kalshi, a sports betting platform. The move drew criticism from fans and at least one Yahoo Sports columnist, who argued it was a bad look for both Sampras and the sport.
How it unfolded
- 2002Pete Sampras retires from professional tennis after a career that included 14 Grand Slam titles and five US Open wins.
- Sep 2026Sampras appears in a US Open promotional campaign as a spokesman for Kalshi, a sports betting platform.
- Sep 10, 2026Backlash spreads on social media and in columns, with fans and Yahoo Sports' Dan Wolken criticizing the partnership.
Who’s saying what
- Public
- Fans called the Kalshi deal a bad look, with one user writing that Sampras 'voluntarily disappears for 25 years, then reappears as a spokesperson for Kalshi. That's lame, man.'
- Analysts
- Yahoo Sports' Dan Wolken wrote on X that Sampras 'purposefully disappears for 25 years, re-emerges as a spokesman for Kalshi. This sucks, man.'
Still unverified
Some fan comments described the partnership as 'classless' or a 'fall from grace'; these are individual social media reactions reported by outlets, not confirmed characterizations. The exact terms and value of Sampras's deal with Kalshi are not stated in the material.