LOS ANGELES -- Andre Agassi ended Gustavo Kuerten's 15-match
winning streak with a 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-3 semifinal victory Saturday
in a baseline slugfest between the world's top two players in the
Mercedes-Benz Cup.
|  | | Pete Sampras is looking for his first title in his past 14 tournaments, his longest such streak since his first title in 1990. |
Agassi advanced to Sunday's final against fourth-seeded Pete
Sampras, who defeated Xavier Malisse of Belgium 7-6 (4), 6-4.
"I've come here with a purpose," said Agassi, who won the event in 1998 and lost to Sampras in the 1999 final. "It's such a great tournament to get started on the right foot for the summer."
Agassi and Sampras will renew their 13-year rivalry for the 31st time. Agassi has won the last two meetings, both on hard courts, although he trails 17-13 in the series.
"The main thing is I'm playing well," said Sampras, who
trailed 3-0 in the tiebreaker before winning the final three
points. "My form has gotten better as the week's gone on."
Sampras had his left thigh wrapped during warmups, but the wrap
unraveled and his legs got tangled as he tried to take it off.
"I was attempting to play with it on. I hate any tape on my
body," he said. "I tried to do it and it felt like I was trying
to play with a cast."
Sampras and Malisse took turns serving six of the first eight
games at love. Tied at 4-all in the breaker, Malisse's forehand
appeared to land on the sideline, but was called out. He protested
to no avail.
"I know it was in because it was right on the line, but there's
nothing you can do," he said. "It took a little bit out of me."
Sampras went up 5-4, then broke Malisse on the Belgian's next
two serves to close out the first set.
Sampras broke Malisse in the third game of the second set for a
2-1 lead, then saved three break points in the sixth game for a 4-2
lead. Sampras hit a forehand volley winner on match point.
Sampras hasn't won a title in 14 tournaments, the longest he's gone without a trophy since winning his first ATP title in his 34th event in 1990.
"I wouldn't consider it a drought," he said. "It's been a disappointing year, but I can turn it around very quickly in the next four weeks."
Sampras had an extra reason to smile. He became an uncle for the first time Saturday after his brother Gus' wife had a baby girl, who was named Olivia Georgia. Her middle name is in honor of Sampras' mother.
Kuerten, the top seed from Brazil, hadn't lost a match since
winning his third French Open title in June. His streak included a
victory last week on red clay in Germany -- one of his ATP
Tour-leading five titles this year.
"I'm tired and I've been playing a lot of tennis the last few weeks," said Kuerten, who called for a trainer to massage his legs before the third set began. "If I had a little more energy, I might have been able to play the way I was at the beginning of the match."
Agassi broke Kuerten twice in the third set and won when Kuerten
missed a forehand on the third match point.
"I definitely took advantage of a few moments where he got
careless with some shots," Agassi said.
Agassi saved three break points on his serve to up 5-3 after Kuerten netted a backhand drop shot attempt.
"I told myself, `You've got to execute. Don't just give away your serve,' " Agassi said. "I had to step it up and make him hit two or three good shots."
Flag-waving fans wearing the green and gold colors of Brazil broke out in song ("Ole! Ole! Ole! Gu-ga, Gu-ga") when their curly-haired hero won the first set in a tiebreaker.
But Kuerten appeared to tire while Agassi drew progressively
stronger in the hot, sunny conditions at the Los Angeles Tennis
Center on the UCLA campus.
Kuerten committed 36 unforced errors in the nearly two-hour
match. Agassi broke him in the fourth game of the second set, then
served one of his four love games to take a 4-1 lead.
Down love-40, Kuerten saved three break points and held at 4-2.
Agassi answered with another love service game to go up 5-2. Agassi
closed out the set when Kuerten netted a forehand service return.
"I don't think one specific thing changed the result," Kuerten said. "If I hit it in, I would win and if I hit it out, I lose."
Kuerten's backhand won him easy points in the first set before
errors crept in. Agassi called the Brazilian's one-handed backhand
the best he's ever faced.
"It's as versatile and as good a shot as you'll see in the game," he said.
The victory helped Agassi solidify his lead over Kuerten in the
ATP Champions Race, which determines the world's No. 1 player at
year's end. Kuerten needed to win the title in order to overtake
Agassi, who brought a 34-point lead into the week.
"Here's a guy I'm going to have to deal with the next few
years," Agassi said. "I want him to feel my game and I want to
know what I have to do to improve."
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ALSO SEE
Saturday's results
Agassi now gets Kuerten after disposing of Gambill
Agassi earns quarterfinal date at Mercedes-Benz
Sampras fends off Chang in Mercedez-Benz Cup
Sampras struggles, but wins first match since Wimbledon defeat
Agassi ready to balance family, tennis
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