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Pete's revenge Sampras sweeps No. 1 Agassi in ATP final
Posted: Sunday November 28, 1999 04:43 PM
HANOVER, Germany (AP) - Pete Sampras beat the man who supplanted him at the top of the rankings, winning the ATP Tour World Championship on Sunday with a 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 victory over Andre Agassi. In a final pitting the player of the year against the player of the decade, Sampras captured this season-ending tournament for the fifth time to equal the mark set by Ivan Lendl. In round-robin play earlier in the US$3.6 million tournament, which features the world's top eight players, Agassi beat Sampras 6-2, 6-2. But Sampras, coming off a three-month layoff because of hip and back injuries, was at his best Sunday and showed no sign of rustiness. "It's been a tough week, but I played very well today," Sampras said. "I was able to play on a very high level." "I wanted to prove that I still have it. I was very pumped up, ready to go," he said. "Today was a big match and I've always believed in myself, that I can rise to the occasion," Sampras said. "It was a bad day to be flat," Agassi said. "I was really unhappy with the way I played." Sampras defeated Agassi four of the five times they played this year, and he leads their lifetime series 17-11. This was the fifth title of the year for Sampras, who completed only eight tournaments. He missed the U.S. Open. Agassi, enjoying the best year of his career, won the French Open and the U.S. Open and lost the Wimbledon final to Sampras. He will finish the year at No. 1 for the first time. Sampras paid tribute to Agassi. "He had an incredible year and deserves to be No. 1," he said. Sampras had finished as No. 1 for a record six years. His run ended this year and he will finish 1999 at No. 3, two rankings higher than at the start of this tournament. Agassi won this championship in 1990 when it was first held in Germany. The event switches to Lisbon, Portugal, next year. Sampras hit winners from all over the court, including his trademark leaping overhead smashes, much to the delight of the crowd of 13,500. He finished with 47 winners to 14 for Agassi. Sampras earned US$1.385 million for his victory and Agassi won US$685,000. He got off to a quick start by breaking Agassi's serve in the second game. He broke serve again for a 5-1 lead and clinched the set with a backhand volley. "I was on top of him early," Sampras said. Sampras fell behind 3-0 in the second set. But Agassi hit a forehand long to drop his serve in the seventh game. A backhand into the net by Agassi put Sampras 6-5 up and he served out the set in the next game. "I was frustrated with the rhythm of the match, he was changing pace," Agassi said. The third set began with another break of serve for Sampras as Agassi hit a forehand long. Sampras never lost the momentum and won the match with his 15th ace after one hour, 46 minutes. "After the U.S. Open, I kind of accepted the fact that I wasn't going to be No. 1. I've done it longer than anyone. Beating Andre, who's had a phenomenal year, is what I'm most pleased about."
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