Agassi Beats Sampras in ATP Opener

Andre Agassi outslugged an uninspired Pete Sampras, 6-4, 6-2, today in an opening round match at the ATP World Championships.

Sampras, with shin splints so bad he had to withdraw from last week’s Wembley tournament, struggled through most of the match as Agassi avenged his U.S. Open final loss to the Californian.

After managing to hold serve in the fourth game, Agassi broke Sampras in the seventh to take control. An erratic Sampras sprayed shots wildly and Agassi scored breaks in the first and third game of the second set.

Sampras made a brief rally in the sixth game, breaking Agassi for the first time to cut the deficit to 4-2. But he dropped the next game on a double-fault and Agassi served his 10th ace to finish off the match in just over an hour.

In the opening match, top-ranked Stefan Edberg overcame a sluggish start and beat Emilio Sanchez 6-7, 6-3, 6-1.

Edberg, Agassi, Sampras and Sanchez are in one group of the eight-man tournament. After round-robin matches, the two top players from each group advance to the semifinals of the $2-million event.

Edberg had problems with his first serve at the end of the first set. He saved three set points while serving in the 12th game to send the set into the tiebreaker.

Sanchez broke the Swede twice in the tiebreaker to race to a 6-3 lead. Edberg saved one set point, but then double-faulted to give the Spaniard the set.

Edberg rallied in the second set, breaking Sanchez in the second game, and never looked back.

A volley gave Edberg the set and evened the score.

Edberg’s serve, his best weapon, returned fully in the decisive set and he also broke Sanchez in the first and third games to take a 5-1 lead.

Sanchez, ranked No. 8, fell behind 0-40 while serving to stay in the match. The Spaniard saved two match points but then sent a forehand wide, and Edberg wrapped up the match in two hours and two minutes.

In another match on the first day, No. 3 Ivan Lendl played Thomas Muster of Austria, ranked seventh.