Sampras Defeats Ivanisevic

Pete Sampras, the world’s No. 1-ranked player, got back on the tournament-winning track by edging second-seeded Goran Ivanisevic, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5, Sunday at Indianapolis in the final of the $1-million RCA Championships for his first title since April.

The top-seeded Sampras earned $150,000 in winning his fifth title in five finals played in 1996--but his first since winning the Japan Open four months ago.

“Whenever you win it brings you a lot of confidence and that is one thing I was looking for here, going into Flushing [U.S. Open],” Sampras said. “I feel fit and ready to go.”

In recent months Sampras has played in few tournaments--the French Open where he reached the semifinals, Wimbledon where he reached the quarterfinals, and last week in Cincinnati, where he lost in the third round.

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Alex O’Brien, a wild-card entry ranked 169th, completed an incredible run at the Connecticut Tennis Center in New Haven by beating Jan Siemerink in the final of the $1-million Pilot Pen International.

O’Brien, a 26-year-old Texan, finished his dream week with a 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 victory over the 10th-seeded Dutchman.