"We were both tongue-tied and we barely made eye contact" - When Pete Sampras opened up on first meeting with his wife Bridgette Wilson

Pete Sampras had a decent 1999 season, during which he won his sixth Wimbledon crown. The American also registered triumphs in Los Angeles and Cincinnati that year.

However, he suffered a leg injury during his quarterfinal against Vince Spadea at the RCA Championships in Indianapolis. As a result, he was out of action for a few months.

Sampras met his wife Bridgette Wilson during his injury layoff in 1999. The former World No. 1 spoke at lengh about his first meeting with Wilson in his book, "A Champion's Mind."

Sampras stated that he first saw Wilson, an actress, while watching the movie "Love Stinks" with his friend John Black. Black was the public relations chief for the Los Angeles Lakers at the time.

Sampras said that he was "blown away" by the "stunning" Wilson.

"There was a bright spot to that otherwise terrible late summer—my injury was indirectly responsible for my wife and me meeting," Pete Sampras wrote. "While I was hurt, I was watching this movie, Love Stinks, with a friend, John Black. Bridgette Wilson, an actress in the film, caught my eye. Actually, she blew me away when I saw her. I thought she was stunning."

The former World No. 1 further recalled that he sarcastically told Black to get him a date with Wilson. Black managed to get the actress' phone number from her publicist, and Sampras called Wilson a few days later.

"John is a pretty well-connected guy, so I told him, kind of sarcastically, that if he really wanted to impress me with how much pull he had around Hollywood, he would have to get me a date with that Wilson girl," Pete Sampras wrote.

"A few days later, John called and told me it was a done deal—he had gotten Bridgette’s number from her publicist, whom he knew. 'Sure,' I said, wary that this was going to be some kind of prank. I called Bridgette a few days later. She was very shy on the phone. I asked her out, and she suggested meeting at my place."

According to Sampras, the first meeting between Wilson and himself was very awkward as they hardly spoke or made any eye contact. That first date took place at an Italian restaurant, and after returning home Sampras knew Wilson was the one for him.

"Our first meeting was almost painful, it was so awkward. We were both tongue-tied, and we barely made eye contact. It was comical, or at least it would have been to anyone who wasn’t either of us," Pete Sampras wrote.

"I suggested dinner at an Italian restaurant. The change of scenery—and getting onto neutral turf in a public place—helped. Gradually, we loosened up and had a wonderful dinner. Back at home after our first date, I was smitten—I knew she was the one," he added.

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Pete Sampras and Bridgette Wilson got married in 2000

Pete Sampras at the 2014 Australian Open

Pete Sampras and Bridgette Wilson got married in 2000, a year after they started dating. The couple welcomed their first child, Christian, in 2002, while their second son Ryan was born in 2005.

Wilson was in attendance when Sampras won his last Grand Slam singles title at the 2002 US Open, beating Andre Agassi 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in the final. This was also the American's last professional match, as he announced his retirement from tennis later that year.

Sampras finished his career with 76 singles titles, including 14 Grand Slams.