A tragedy for Pam Shriver, tennis legend: her most precious trophies were stolen after she had to flee her home due to the terrible fires in Los Angeles. The coach, who was to be at the Australian Open, expresses her sadness at this…
It is a real personal drama that Pam Shriver, legend of women’s tennis, is currently going through. Collateral victim of the terrible fires which ravaged Los Angeles in recent days, the American with 22 Grand Slam doubles titles had to hastily evacuate her home to take refuge in the hotel. But fate took hold: taking advantage of her absence, burglars stole her most precious trophies which she had managed to save from the flames.
On social networks, Pam Shriver recounted her misadventure in detail, with death in her soul. Taking refuge with her son in a hotel after fleeing the fire, the fifty-year-old had the very unpleasant surprise of discovering that her car had been forced into the parking lot. Inside were her most cherished trophies, those that she had managed to shelter at the last minute, while waiting to be able to return home safely. Alas, the criminals did not have the same scruples, taking with them these priceless sporting memories.
An immeasurable loss for the legend of women’s tennis
Pam Shriver does not hide her immense sadness in the face of this personal tragedy. While she thought she had saved the most important thing by putting her trophies in a safe place, the coach of the young Croatian Donna Vekic is having a hard time with this burglary which deprives her of memories dear to her heart. Speaking to the media ESPN, the former champion confided her dismay:
It’s really sad in a lot of ways that when people are at their lowest and most difficult times, people do things like that.
For Pam Shriver, this theft makes an already painful situation even worse. The one who won no less than 21 Grand Slam titles in women’s doubles and 1 in mixed doubles today feels dispossessed of part of her personal history and her glorious record.
-A heartbreak before the Australian Open
This mishap is all the more unfortunate as the American was initially supposed to be in Melbourne at this very moment. As coach of Donna Vekic, qualified for the round of 16 of the Australian Open, Pam Shriver had obviously planned to be alongside her protégé for this first major meeting of the season.
But the devastating fires which struck the City of Angels decided otherwise, forcing the former champion to reconsider her plans in a disaster. There is no doubt that she would have preferred to experience this start of the Grand Slam tournament intensely rather than having to deal with this burglary which adds unhappiness to an already painful situation.
Support from the tennis world
Faced with this ordeal, Pam Shriver can nevertheless count on the unwavering support of the tennis world. Many personalities sent her messages of comfort following the announcement of this theft which touched her heart. Words which, if they will not erase the immense pain of the American, show the affection and respect that the microcosm of the little yellow ball still has for her.
In the immediate future, the former world number 3 in singles would especially like to be able to find her stolen goods and return them to the place of honor that they occupied in her home. Valuable trophies in his eyes which symbolize an exceptional career, made up of prestigious titles won in the four corners of the globe. Let us hope that the authorities will quickly succeed in identifying the culprits and returning to Pam Shriver this invaluable sporting heritage which is her legend and her pride.
