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Sampras in top form for US Open

© Joel Hunt

Pete Sampras has been able to turn around what had been a mediocre year for him, and is currently in top form. He has just won Queens, Wimbledon and now the Los Angeles tournaments in succession. At the time of writing Sampras is on an 18 match winning streak in singles, which is the 4th best streak of his career. With Pat Rafter faultering in his title defence of Toronto, and with a winning record against Agassi, Sampras is now looking to be the favourite for reclaiming his former US Open title.

Sampras continued his excellent Wimbledon form on the hardcourts of Los Angeles, beating French Open winner Andre Agassi in the final. The match was close, but Sampras dominated the 2 tie-breakers which were played, winning by 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-1).

Sampras appears to have gained renewed confidence from his Wimbledon win. He seemed to be down and out at the start of the year, being too tired to play in the Australian Open and losing early in the 2nd round of the French Open. He had won no titles up until Queens in July. Even then, he made hard work of his Wimbledon title defence, up until he played Agassi in the final. In that match Sampras seemed to step up a gear, and never let Agassi into the match. It could well be a turning point for Sampras, since the confidence from his win has clearly continued in view of his form on the US hard-courts.

Andre Agassi is also in good form, though it doesn't seem like he can seriously challenge Sampras when he is in peak form, as at Wimbledon. Still, Agassi's resurrection is good for the game, in particular his win at the French Open.

Meanwhile, Pat Rafter has made a shaky start to the US summer hard-court season. He reached the quarter-finals of the Canadian Open Super-Nine event which he won last year, but lost to Nicholas Keifer in 3 sets. Rafter has subsequently fallen to number 4 in the world rankings. He still has 3 titles to defend over the next month and a half, including the US Open. It will take a monumental effort for him to win there again, particularly with Agassi and Sampras in such good form.

Tournament News

In the Mercedes Open on clay, Magnus Norman came back from 2 sets down to beat local hero Tommy Haas by 6-7 (6-8), 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-0, 6-3. He followed this up with a win at the Croatia Open, defeating American Jeff Tarango by 6-2, 6-4.

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