Jennifer Capriati is a name that once dominated the tennis headlines. However, Capriati was away from the sports for years until she made a return to the center stage on the final day of the 2026 women’s Australian Open in Melbourne. 

The three-time Grand Slam champion made a rare public appearance at the Australian Open, stepping onto Rod Laver Arena to present the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup ahead of the women’s final between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina. Although she came to the forefront only briefly, it turned out to be a nostalgic moment for tennis fans.

Talking to Tennis Channel, Capriati shared, “I just have so much gratitude … I’ve had 20 years to reflect on it, and it’s just great to be back. I’m honoured to be back. It’s been a journey.”

Now 49, Capriati has largely stayed away from the spotlight since quietly stepping away from professional tennis two decades ago. Back in 2004, the Australian star had to put down her rackets due to persistent wrist and shoulder injuries. 

American tennis legend, Lindsay Davenport, was extremely happy to see Capriati return to the realm of sports again. She added, “Whoever wins is going to be excited not only to win, but to see her. It’s just been remarkable to see you back on the grounds and have you re-involved in tennis again”.

Who Is Jennifer Capriati and Why Is She a Tennis Icon?

Born Jennifer Maria Capriati in New York City on March 29, 1976, she secured several ‘youngest-ever’ records. She was not even 14 when she turned professional back in 1990 and reached the semis for the 1990 French Open, becoming the youngest-ever to reach the top 10 at just 14 years 235 days of age. In the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, she won the Olympic Gold Medal.

While her career graph saw an early rise when she was barely a teenager, her career saw a dip after her first-round loss at the 1993 US Open. She struggled with several personal challenges, which further forced her to take a break from the competitive sphere for 14-long months. However, she did stop there.

In 1996, she made a return. She slowly strove towards the zenith, and she has the honor of receiving the award for the WTA Comeback Player of the Year in the same year. In 1997, she reached the final in Sydney and defeated Davenport in the semis; however lost to Martina Hingis in the finals. 

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2000 saw her reach the first Grand Slam semifinal in the last nine years, and she was yet again rising up in the rankings. At the Miami Open, she defeated Serena Williams to secure a historic win. However, she was soon sidelined as she suffered from right Achilles tendonitis and an elbow injury in June of 2000.

Overcoming the injury struggles in 2001, Capriati was the 12th seed for the Australian Open. And in this very year, she secured her first Grand Slam victory by defeating the top seed for the 2001 Australian Open, Martina Hingis, who won in straight sets. In the same year, she secured her second Grand Slam win in the French Open. She won in the final over Kim Clijsters.

In 2002, Capriati secured her third Grand Slam in the Australian Open, facing Hingis yet again in the finals. Following her rise, she again had to take a brief pause as he has to undergo an eye surgery to remove sun spots at the beginning of 2003. However, she returned and continued playing till the end of 2004. Although she never made an official, formal retirement announcement, she did not play on the WTA tour again following her final match at the 2004 US Open.

What Is Jennifer Capriati’s Net Worth?

According to the reports from StarBioHub, her estimated net worth as of 2026 stands at approximately around  $12 million to $15 million. She hung up her rackets in 2004, and her estimated prize money is reportedly $ 10,206,639 (approx.) 

Who Are Jennifer Capriati’s Parents and What Is Her Family Background?

Jennifer Capriati was born into an Italian-American family. Her family played an extremely supportive role as she continued to shine in the world of tennis. The Capriati family had a deep passion for the athletic realm. Adding to that, it was Capriati’s father, Stefano Capriati, who was her coach. 

The family decided to relocate to Florida in order to support Capriati’s tennis development. By just 10 years of age, Capriati was already competing at national junior tournaments and she continued to bag back-to-back wins.

What Is Jennifer Capriati’s Ethnicity and Nationality?

Jennifer Capriati was born to Italian-American parents in New York, America. Her nationality is American, and she has represented her country in various international events, including the Olympics. However, alongside being an American, she also respects and carries her Italian heritage.

Is Jennifer Capriati in a Relationship? What Is Known About Her Personal Life?

Capriati has refrained from making any personal announcements regarding her personal life. Even when she was at the peak of her career and reigned in the headlines often, she managed to maintain secrecy about her personal life. 

According to reports, she has not been married as of January 2026. Although fans have always been curious about her personal life, she has chosen to avoid the limelight and has concentrated on the sport primarily.

While she has refrained from speaking up about dating or marriage in the public forum, she has candidly reflected on her struggles that affected her career, and the setbacks she had to encounter on grounds of her mental health.

What Is Jennifer Capriati Doing Now After Retiring From Tennis?

The US legend concluded her career with a 430-176 record. She boasts 14 individual titles alongside 1 doubles title. 8 years after her, she bid farewell to the sport. In 2012, she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Following her retirement, she has stayed away from the spotlight. However, six years after her retirement, she hit the headlines in 2010 for a reporter’s drug overdose. 

Although she doesn’t come to the center stage, her life still revolves around the sport, and she actively shares her opinion on the sport on X. Now that she has yet again stepped back into the limelight, fans are expecting that she will continue to remain more involved in tennis academics or in coaching rising athletes.