Sampras

NEW YORK -- This was the match everyone was geared up for at the U.S. Open. A match between No. 1 Pete Sampras and the big-serving Mark Philippoussis.Because Philippoussis beat Sampras in straight sets at the Australian Open, and because he can match Sampras big serve-for-big serve, observers anticipate another upset every time they meet.But in their rematch at Wimbledon, Sampras stalked off with a quick, three-set victory over the 20-year-old Australian.And last night, in a scene reminiscent of something out of "Raiders of the Lost Ark," in which Indiana Jones tires of watching some bad guy demonstrate his sword skills and simply shoots him, Sampras broke Philippoussis on his second service game and galloped into the night, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.The final game was all anyone needed to know about this match.

FRANKFURT, Germany -- Pete Sampras, playing what he said were the two best sets of his career, beat Ivan Lendl, and Jim Courier defeated defending champion Andre Agassi yesterday to reach the final of the ATP World Championship.Sampras used a powerful serve-and-volley game to beat Lendl, 6-2, 6-3. Courier, coming off a big season in which he has jumped to No. 2 in the world rankings, defeated Agassi, 6-3, 7-5.Courier, the top seed, broke Agassi for a 4-2 lead and went on to serve out the first set.Agassi broke Courier for a 4-2 lead in the second, but Courier broke right back in the next game and gained the decisive break in the 11th game.

A couple of months ago, while practicing before the United States took on Australia in the semifinals of the Davis Cup inWashington, Pete Sampras appeared as if he had left his game at the last tour stop. Once a point was under way against practice partner Jim Courier, Sampras would invariably lose it, as his forehands flew long and the backhands went wide.Concern found its way among the spectators and event organizers. After all, the United States was taking on the always-tough Aussies with defending U.S. Open champ Patrick Rafter and the world's best doubles team, Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde.

WIMBLEDON, England -- The game of tennis is so refined. Men and women dressed in white, stroking yellow tennis balls back and forth on manicured green grass, in front of respectfully silent crowds.Stefan Edberg and Pete Sampras fit right in.Of course, there have been players to throw in a wrench-- Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and even Boris Becker, when he arrived at Wimbledon, a brash, go-for-the-grass-stain 17-year-old.But none took on the persona of a rock star the way Andre Agassi has.The defending Wimbledon champion thrives in the glare of fame, seemingly leaving his rivals in the dark.

LYON, France -- All you need to know about how the first day of the France-U.S. Davis Cup final went yesterday was the final scene:Henri Leconte sprang into the air like a popped champagne cork and blew kisses.Pete Sampras stared at the ground and grimly trudged off into a darkened tunnel.Guess who won.In his Davis Cup debut, Sampras fell flatter than a bad souffle and lost in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5, 6-4, to Leconte, the crafty left-handed veteran of 39 Davis Cup matches and three spinal operations -- back from the dead, according to Yannick Noah, to put on the performance of his life.

WIMBLEDON, England -- Yesterday, Boris Becker showed Wimbledon the old moves -- and the old power.He dived on the grass. He slammed winners. And he beat Britain's Mark Petchey, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2, to advance to the round of 16.Becker, 29, hasn't won Wimbledon since 1989.But don't tell him that the Wimbledon title is reserved for youthful players."You need many things to survive a very strenuous two-week tournament," he said. "You need to be very, very patient. Your nerves have to be excellent.

NEW YORK -- There's a 24-year-old Frenchman whose coach left for Paris Monday, probably thinking his prized pupil wasn't too far behind. There's a 30-year-old Australian who longs for the days of wooden rackets and longer points. There's a 26-year-old Russian who is in the middle of his honeymoon.And there's a 22-year-old American who simply might be the best tennis player in the world.That's how today's men's semifinals of the U.S. Open shake out at the National Tennis Center: It's No. 2 seed Pete Sampras and The Other Guys.

PHILADELPHIA -- John McEnroe talks of the garbage-filled streets of New York, the grime of tennis politics, the shame of playing matches at the lunch hour. His face is unshaven, his hair uncombed and his bald spot uncovered.This is no longer the sound and the fury of an angry young man. Age matures some and enrages others. It definitely does not wear well on a rebel still seeking a cause.Yesterday, McEnroe celebrated his 32nd birthday by playing in the semifinals of the U.S. Pro Indoor at the Spectrum.

WIMBLEDON, England -- Pete Sampras reigned at Wimbledon yesterday. With Princess Diana bouncing in her seat and cheering him on, Sampras pounded Jim Courier into the grass on Centre Court and cleared up any doubt about who's No. 1."This was huge for me," said Sampras, after winning, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 6-3. "If I would have lost this title after being up two sets, I would have been devastated. It probably would have taken me six months or a year to get over it. But it didn't happen."

NEW YORK -- No. 1 Pete Sampras had only one goal two weeks ago -- to save his season by winning the U.S. Open.For Sampras, tennis is nothing but big matches and Grand Slam titles, and without a Grand Slam title this year, he felt incomplete.So last night, after watching three hours of football while waiting for the weather to clear, he went out on the Stadium Court and won Grand Slam title No. 8 with a 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) victory over longtime rival Michael Chang, the No. 2 seed."My goal from Jan. 1 on is to win a major title," said Sampras.