TENNIS / AUSTRALIAN OPEN : Streaking Sampras Wins Title

Pete Sampras, blasting aces as fast as 126 m.p.h., won his third consecutive Grand Slam title by overpowering Todd Martin in straight sets today in the Australian Open final.

Sampras, who had 13 aces, overcame an early threat from Martin by winning a first-set tiebreaker, and then rolled to a 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 6-4 victory.

The top-seeded Sampras became the first man in nearly three decades to win Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and the Australian Open consecutively. The only others were Roy Emerson in 1964-65 and Don Budge in 1937-38.

Sampras raised his arms in triumph after ending the match with a forehand winner. Golfing buddies Martin and Sampras then put their arms around each other’s shoulders, and Sampras momentarily rested his head on Martin’s left shoulder.

It was the first all-American final at the Australian Open since 1982, when Johan Kriek defeated Steve Denton. Sampras won $322,000, Martin $161,000.

Sampras’ powerful serves and groundstrokes often left the ninth-seeded Martin flat-footed, or reaching in vain as the ball rifled past.

“He’s just too good and he really deserves what he’s succeeding at, because he’s really working his butt off,” Martin said of Sampras before thanking the crowd by saying, “I just appreciate all the support a little American kid can get.”

There were plenty of excellent shots in the 2-hour 33-minute match, but little drama. Sampras and Martin are extremely professional in their approach to tennis and show little personality on the court, and Sampras was firmly in control after the first set.

The first set took 63 minutes, longer than the entire women’s final on Saturday. Martin had his best chance at 3-3 in the first set, when he had four break points, but Sampras saved them all and eventually forced the tiebreaker.

On Saturday, Steffi Graf had just reasserted her dominance in women’s tennis with a nearly flawless performance to win her fourth consecutive Grand Slam title when the shadow of her only real rival appeared.

“Are you looking forward to Monica’s return?” she was asked after her 6-0, 6-2 defeat of Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in the women’s final.

“Yes,” she said with a bewildered look on her face before pausing and taking a deep breath.

Monica Seles has been sidelined since being stabbed in the back last April by a spectator.