Agassi beats Sampras for Indian Wells title

Clearly establishing himself as the tour's most dominant player so far this year, Andre Agassi thumped longtime rival Pete Sampras 7-6 (7-5) 7-5 6-1 to capture the Tennis Masters Series-Indian Wells title on Sunday.

Pummeling the third seed from the baseline and cracking rapid-fire passing shots at key moments, the fourth-seeded Agassi never dropped his serve in the match, while breaking Sampras three times.

In winning his first Indian Wells title in 11 tries, the 30-year-old Agassi was remarkably consistent, committing only 10 unforced errors to 49 from Sampras.

Agassi, who picked up his seventh Grand Slam title at this year's Australian Open and reached the final in San Jose, said he is currently at his best.

"No question," said Agassi, who climbed to number one in the ATP Champions Race with the win. "I feel like I'm a better athlete than I've ever been.

"I'm stronger, fitter, move better. I have more options. When you're physically holding up and you have the years of experience, it comes together a bit easier."

Sampras, 29, who entered the match with a 17-12 career edge over Agassi, was looking for his first title since capturing his record 13th Grand Slam crown at Wimbledon last July. But he never established any rhythm on his vaunted serve.

Sampras battled gamely in the first set, but was unable to convert on four break point opportunities as Agassi effectively kept him pinned to the baseline.

In the tiebreaker, Sampras double faulted twice and only hit one winner, losing the breaker 7-5 when Agassi laced a backhand down the line passing shot.

LET DOWN BY SERVE

Sampras said his serve failed him.

"In the tiebreaker it did," he said. "You can't continue to hit second serves against Andre because he returns too well. The serve wasn't there all week. It was a little inconsistent."

Sampras was unable to raise his game in the second set, as Agassi pounded him from the baseline and kept him at bay by hitting heavily topspinned serves to his backhand, with which Sampras could do little.

The battle between the game's best server and its premier returner ultimately went to the man on the receiving end as Agassi broke Sampras at love to take the second set with an easy forehand passing shot.

"He hung in there and played like a champion through the second set," said Agassi, who earned $400,000 for the win. "I had him love-40 earlier and he answered with three first serves.

"I played a great game to break him. I hit three cold winners. He made me play very special to win that set."

Sampras lost all of his fire after that and played a despondent third set, which Agassi won with ease.

"I just kind of slowly wilted away in the third set," admitted Sampras, the 1994 and '95 champion here.

"I was handling him from the ground and I was controlling a lot of baseline points," Agassi said. "That's the most important part for me on my own service games, to be executing my shots better than my opponent. I did that very well today."

Sampras said that Agassi was just too good on the day.

"He's playing great. He's not missing much," Sampras said. "He was hitting the ball deep, keeping me on my heels."

WINNING BETTER THAN EVER

Even though he is old in tennis years, Agassi seems to be successfully keeping the twilight of his career at bay.

Happily involved in a long term romance with former women's tennis great Steffi Graf and relieved that both his mother and sister appear to be recovering from bouts with breast cancer, Agassi is as content as he's ever been.

"Winning gets better," he said. "You have more of an ability to sit back and really be thankful for your life and what makes up your life. You have much more of an appreciation later in your career to know how much work it's taken..."

Sampras thinks there may well be more major titles in Agassi's future.

"It's pretty good the way he's started out the year, the way he's playing," Sampras said. "He's definitely going to be a strong favorite each Slam he plays."

Riding a wave of confidence, Agassi even gives himself an outside chance of completing a Grand Slam sweep, a feat Graf accomplished in 1988.

"I can't say in sports that many things are impossible, because special things do happen," Agassi said. "So, no, it's not impossible.

"I feel like I have to win 21 matches in the biggest of situations on three different surfaces."