Kuerten lands Masters title and top ranking

Gustavo Kuerten smashed Andre Agassi 6-4 6-4 6-4 on Sunday to win the season-ending Masters Cup and clinch the year-end top ranking.

Kuerten's win makes him the first non-American to end the year with the top ranking since Stefan Edberg in 1991, and the first South American to finish the season in pole position.

"I don't know if I feel like a human being today...this feeling is just unbelievable," the French Open champion said.

"I had many chances this year to be number one and now, on the last match of the season, I gave it everything and won. To beat Pete (Sampras) and Andre here in two days is unbelievable.

"To play like I did in the last two matches...I mean, I played better than ever I could have imagined."

The Brazilian, roared on by a partisan Portuguese crowd, leapfrogged Russia's Marat Safin in the rankings in the final match of the season.

Agassi had been gunning for his second season-ending title 10 years after his first but Kuerten was in inspired form at the Atlantic Pavilion.

The Brazilian had lost to Agassi earlier in the week in his opening round-robin qualifying match but turned the tables in style to lift his 10th career title and fifth of the year.

Kuerten, dubbed "o portugues" by the local media, collected $1.4 million for his victory.

He got off to a storming start on the quick, indoor court. Inspired by the vocal support of the 11,000-strong crowd he broke Agassi in the very first game, thumping a forehand winner away on game point.

That immediate break was all he needed as Agassi never came close to breaking back.

CHANGE OF SHOES

The Brazilian changed his shoes -- from white to black -- during the sixth game and a succession of winners immediately flew from his racket.

After 40 minutes of action he lashed an acutely-angled forehand past Agassi at the net to take the opener 6-4.

Kuerten suffered a hamstring strain in his first match against Agassi on Tuesday and also sported strapping on his lower back on Sunday but showed no sign of discomfort as he raced around the court chasing down Agassi's missiles.

Agassi had to fight off a break point in the opening game of the second set before eventually holding and taking the lead in a set for the first time in the match.

Determined to get down to business, Agassi jogged round to the other side of the net to receive Kuerten's serve.

Seeing the ball earlier, Agassi rifled a return almost on the half-volley to earn a break point of his own, but Kuerten dealt with that by hammering down an unstoppable serve before holding.

In the fifth game he again broke Agassi -- this time to love -- with some breathtaking tennis which overwhelmed the American.

Kuerten was in unstoppable form and earned three break points in the seventh game, but Australian Open champion Agassi managed to fight them off.

Serving for the set, Kuerten faced a break point himself. A heavy serve got him out of trouble, followed by two aces to take a two-set lead.

The pressure on Agassi was mounting and he finally cracked in the fifth game of the third set. Having saved one set point he double faulted to hand Kuerten a 3-2 lead.

It was the only invitation Kuerten needed and after two hours and six minutes he served out for an historic 6-4 6-4 6-4 victory.

"Everybody in Brazil can celebrate now," he beamed after the match. "I come from a small city and nobody knew I could play tennis. Now I am here and everybody can see."

Agassi said: "There are just two things I can say now.

"One is I just want to say thank you to the Portuguese fans here who have made it so special. You've not only made this tournament special for me but for many other players as well.

"The second thing to say is an incredible congratulations to Guga. Not just because of the way he played today when he proved himself a true champion, but also because of a great, hard-fought year.

"I promise you, what you have achieved today will be a very proud moment and memory for you always," added Agassi, the 1999 year-end number one.