Agassi and Sampras get set for latest showdown

Ageing Grand Slam warriors Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras booked another showdown in their longtime rivalry after posting fourth-round wins at the U.S. Open on Monday, 3rd September.

Sampras leads the career series 17-14 against Agassi, who has won the last three encounters in a rivalry that dates back to junior tennis days and will be renewed in the quarter-finals in Flushing Meadows.

The first meeting between the 30-year-old Sampras and 31-year-old Agassi happened so long ago in California that the champions have a hard time remembering the details.

"Twelve and unders maybe," Australian Open champion Agassi guessed about his first match against the young Sampras. "Something like that."

Asked if he remembered any specifics about the first time, the 5-foot-11 (1.80 m) Agassi replied: "No. Just that I was a lot taller than he was. That was it."

Sampras was little more specific.

I'm asked that question whenever I play him," Sampras said with a smile. "I think I always claim I beat him. It was in Northridge, California, at a junior tournament.

"I think I might have been eight and he was nine.

Sampras confirmed that Agassi was taller at the time.

"He was. But that quickly changed," the 6-foot-1 (1.85 m) Sampras said to laughter in the press room. "Thank God."

Double Open winner Agassi took his place in the quarter-finals with a 6-1 6-2 6-4 romp against 20-year-old rising Swiss star Roger Federer, the 13th seed.

Sampras, a four-times Open champion, countered with a 6-3 6-2 6-7 6-4 victory over twice-winner Patrick Rafter of Australia.

"This is a very, very tough draw," said Sampras. "To play Pat in the (round of) 16 and back it up against Andre, this is about as tough as it's going to get. So it's a huge challenge."

The 10th-seeded Sampras, going through his longest title drought since winning his first tournament on tour in 1990, said he was looking forward to the quarter-final.

"It's going to be a good one," said Sampras, whose last tournament victory came at last year's Wimbledon championship and gave him an all-time record 13 Grand Slam titles.

"It's going to be hopefully a classic that we can all remember. Hopefully I can get through it.

"It's a pick-em match. I don't see really any strong favourite on one side. I think it's going to come down to how well I serve, how well he returns. It should be a good one."

Australian Open champion Agassi, the second seed, has beaten Sampras in hardcourt finals this year at Indian Wells and Los Angeles.

Asked what was most striking about his match-ups with Sampras lately, Agassi said: "That I've actually won them."