Agassi beats Sampras in final

Third-seeded Andre Agassi beat fourth seed Pete Sampras 6-4 6-2 on Sunday in the final of the $400,000 Mercedes-Benz Cup.

Agassi won his fourth title of the year following victories at the Australian Open, Ericsson Open and Indian Wells to underline his hardcourt dominance.

He also increased his lead in the ATP Champions race over Brazilian world number one Gustavo Kuerten, whom he defeated in the semifinals Saturday.

"Pete and I have played so many times and in so many big matches that I came out here knowing how well I had to play," said Agassi after claiming his second title at this event and the $54,000 winner's cheque. "He brings out the best in my game. I'm always challenged." Sampras has now failed to win a title in 15 consecutive tournaments since capturing his record-tying seventh Wimbledon crown last year. It is his longest drought since it took him 34 tournaments to win the first of his 63 ATP Tour titles.

Sampras, however, remains optimistic about his game despite turning 30 next month.

"It's all in the mind," he said. "I still feel I have the weapons though the enthusiasm might not be the same as it used to be when I was 22. But there's no reason to panic just because I've had a rough couple of months losing a few matches.

"I still have that confidence and that's half the battle. I have plenty of years left and it's up to me to decide what I want to do."

THIRD STRAIGHT
Agassi's 90-minutes victory was his third straight against Sampras drawing him to 17-14 in their all-time head-to-head series.

"It's always tough when you lose to a rival, especially Andre," Sampras said.

Agassi claimed the opening set even though Sampras was the aggressor with 19 winners but just as many unforced errors.

"I felt I was dominating the first set but lost a couple points here and there and he ended up winning the set," Sampras said. "I got off to that early break and really struggled on one side of the court with the sun."

Sampras broke service in the in the sixth game to take a short-lived 4-2 lead. But was quickly broken to love in the next game by the game's best returner and a blinding sun that hampered his powerful serve.

"It's a big turning point because my serve is a big part of my game," Sampras said. "But in that game I was pretty much blinded by the sun."

Agassi went ahead 5-4 when Sampras committed his seventh double fault of the match -- and third of the game -- at break point, before serving out the set.

Sampras held serve to open the second set, but Agassi kept the pressure on by reeling off the next five games with crunching backhand winners on break points in the third and fifth games to build a 5-1 cushion.

Sampras pulled to within 5-2 but Agassi quickly ended any notion of a comeback by serving out the match to love when Sampras sailed a backhand return over the baseline on match point.

"Andre picked up his game when he had to," Sampras said. "His level was very high. He's a great frontrunner and proved that in the second set."