25 October 2009
Sampras beats Agassi in Macao...twice!
By Arjun Wadhwa
Pete Sampras put one over his old nemesis Andre Agassi, beating the 8-time Grand Slam champion in a final set match tiebreak at the Venetian Macao Tennis Showdown 2009. In a close affair that thrilled the 11,000 strong crowd at the CotaiArena today, Sampras nicked the showpiece event 3-6, 6-3, 10-8.
The match was preceded by a 45-minute timed encounter between junior no.1 Yuki Bhambri and America's leading junior Ryan Harrison. Bhambri was a little fortunate to win that match with the set tied at 5-5, and the Indian ahead 15-0 in the game when the match was timed out.
The kids returned on court to partner their heroes in a doubles exhibition later, which Pete and Yuki won 7-5.
Speaking after the match Andre said, "It was a great afternoon. Playing in front of 11,000 enthusiastic fans was fantastic and there was real energy. It was a pleasure competing against Pete. It's always a joy to test your skills and see where you are at, no matter where you are in life.
"Pete's feel for the ball is unparalleled and his movement is still good enough that you can't be careful with the shots you hit against him.
"It brought back a lot of old memories. It's great when you can go out and play against someone whose game you are really familiar with. It all came flooding back to me on court, including the ace Pete did at the end (on match point)."
Sampras was lavish in his praise for his old foe, "Andre still hits the ball very clean and very heavy. His serving was great today and I think he even out-aced me. He's a great player with a great return of serve, and it just came down to a couple of points in the (tie) breaker. It was great tennis, a great crowd and hopefully we'll do it again.
"Back in the day, Andre was one of those players where if you weren't playing your best, you're going to lose. Some of the other guys I could beat them even when I wasn't playing me best, but not Andre."
Match Results:
Yuki Bhambri (IND) def. Ryan Harrison (USA) 5-5 15-0
Pete Sampras (USA) def. Andre Agassi (USA) 3-6 6-3 10-8
P. Sampras (USA) & Y. Bhambri (IND) def. A. Agassi (USA) & R. Harrison (USA) 7-5
25 October 2009
Sampras beats Agassi in Macau exhibition
By MIN LEE
MACAU (AP) --- Pete Sampras edged by Andre Agassi in three sets on Sunday as the two retired American tennis greats revisited one of the sport's greatest rivalries.
The 3-6, 6-3, 10-8 win in this southern Chinese gambling enclave was the first time the two had played since Sampras won in the 2002 U.S. Open final for his then-record 14th Grand Slam.
The fast indoor surface at The Venetian Macao arena favored Sampras' attacking style, but it was Agassi who came out strong in the first set. He showed no signs of the bad back that required four injections during his final tournament, the 2006 U.S. Open.
"Somehow when you see Pete, it all comes back to you pretty quickly," Agassi said. "I just go, 'Well, I don't really have much of a choice here.' It's just nice to be so familiar with somebody's game."
Sampras, who beat Roger Federer at the same venue in an exhibition two years ago, bounced back in the second set, serving an ace and using a delicate pickup volley to draw even.
He continued to have the advantage in the super tiebreaker, overwhelming Agassi with a powerful serve. Trailing 9-6, Agassi saved two match points --- the second with a down-the-line backhand winner --- but Sampras served out the match with another ace.
"Andre just hits the ball so cleanly, even after being retired for three years. The pace of his shots was very heavy," Sampras said, noting Agassi served more aces than he did.
"How many times does that happen?" Agassi joked.
The two Americans captivated fans in the 1990s and early 2000s with their contrasting styles and personalities. Sampras led their head-to-head series 20 to 14, including 4 to 1 in Grand Slam finals.
"Pete's hands are the same as they've always been," Agassi said. "He has great feel for the ball. He surprised me with the number of pickups he made out there. It was like it just came very naturally."