Sampras wins U.S. Open

NEW YORK (AP) -- Pete Sampras was right all along: He did have a<br>14th Grand Slam title in him. And just like the first, all those<br>years ago, it came in a U.S. Open final against rival Andre Agassi.<br>

Sunday, September 8th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) -- Pete Sampras was right all along: He did have a
14th Grand Slam title in him. And just like the first, all those
years ago, it came in a U.S. Open final against rival Andre Agassi.
His serve clicking, his volleys on target, his forehand as fluid
as ever, Sampras beat Agassi 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 Sunday to win
America's major for the fifth time. At 31, Sampras is the Open's
oldest champion since 1970.
Sampras' play faded in the third set and the fourth, and it was
hard to tell whether Agassi or time was taking the bigger toll. But
he managed to hold on, the rebuke to his doubters as loud as the
sound made by his 33 aces as they slapped the walls behind the
baselines: Pop!
When Agassi put a backhand into the net to give Sampras the last
break he would need, making it 5-4 in the fourth set, Sampras was
so drained he barely lifted a fist, slowly pumping it once as he
trudged to the changeover.
He then served it out, with an ace to match point, and a volley
winner to end it. And he had enough energy to climb up the stairs
in the stands to kiss and hug his pregnant wife, actress Bridgette
Wilson.