Pam Shriver, an International Tennis Hall of Famer, recently shared some heartwarming news after recovering her stolen Grand Slam trophies. Shriver, a 22-time major doubles champion and current ESPN commentator, revealed that the stolen trophies were found and returned to her by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) after a brief but nerve-wracking search.
The ordeal began earlier this month when Shriver’s family had to evacuate their Brentwood, California, home due to the raging Pacific Palisades wildfire, which has burned over 23,000 acres since January 7. In the rush to leave, Shriver packed 11 of her major tennis trophies into the family’s black Dodge Durango Hellcat along with family photos and other valuables.
How the Trophies Were Stolen and Recovered
After fleeing to a hotel in Marina Del Rey, California, Shriver’s vehicle, with the trophies inside, was stolen. The trophies included five US Open trophies, five Roland Garros plates, and one Australian Open trophy. “I don’t think the thieves meant to take the trophies. I doubt they’re big tennis fans. They just happened to be in the back,” Shriver explained during an interview with KTLA.
Thankfully, the trophies were located on Monday when hotel staff found them near the hotel. Surveillance footage captured a vehicle, resembling the stolen Dodge Durango Hellcat, returning the items. Detectives from the LAPD confirmed that they had secured the trophies and were conducting a fingerprint analysis before handing them back to Shriver on Tuesday. Unfortunately, the stolen vehicle is still missing, but Shriver remains optimistic.
“We still hope to find the black Dodge Durango Hellcat in one piece,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Emotional Value Behind the Trophies
For Shriver, the return of the trophies meant much more than recovering sentimental items. “It wasn’t just a sentiment to me. The trophies actually hold a pretty reasonable value as well,” she told ESPN. She credits the public attention surrounding the theft for helping her get them back.
Her doubles partner and tennis legend Martina Navratilova, with whom Shriver won 20 Grand Slam titles, expressed her excitement on X, saying, “That is just awesome!!!! Well done the Police!!!”
Pam Shriver’s Legendary Tennis Career
Pam Shriver, along with Martina Navratilova, is known for being part of one of the most dominant women’s doubles teams in tennis history. Together, they clinched 20 Grand Slam doubles titles:
- 7 Australian Open titles (1982-1985, 1987-1989)
- 5 Wimbledon titles (1981-1984, 1986)
- 4 US Open titles (1983-1984, 1986-1987)
- 4 French Open titles (1984-1985, 1987-1988)
In addition to her doubles success, Shriver won the 1987 French Open mixed doubles title with Emilio Sánchez and the 1991 US Open doubles title with Natasha Zvereva. She also won an Olympic gold medal in women’s doubles with Zina Garrison at the 1988 Seoul Summer Games.
Shriver’s story highlights the emotional connection athletes have with their trophies, which represent years of hard work and achievement. Although her vehicle is still missing, recovering the trophies was a major relief for the tennis legend. Her experience serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving cherished memories, especially when unexpected challenges arise. Shriver’s gratitude toward law enforcement and public support shows the power of community efforts in overcoming obstacles.
