NEW YORK — There were so many unexpected lessons, so many myths shattered in one sun-baked afternoon at the U.S. Open. But, first and foremost, so much for the supposed expiration date of a once-great rivalry.
The shelf life of the always-evolving rivalry between Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi was extended Saturday, much to the delight of network executives and to the genuine surprise of the sport. If men's tennis needed a life raft in 2002, better late than not at all.
Finally, a final will feel like a final. Major figures will play for a major title when Sampras and Agassi meet in the U.S. Open final today. Sampras, seeded 17th, has often been one step ahead of Agassi in their careers, and he was again, reaching the final first, beating Sjeng Schalken of the Netherlands, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4), 6-2, in 2 hours 24 minutes. He had 23 aces and never lost his serve.
Agassi, seeded sixth, had the more difficult assignment, facing defending champion and No. 1-ranked Lleyton Hewitt of Australia, who had beaten him the last three times they'd met. Hitting cleanly and powerfully, Agassi upset Hewitt, 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (1), 6-2, in the 2-hour 59-minute second semifinal and looked like a giddy teenager afterward, not a 32-year-old with a wife and child.
"This is New York, baby," Agassi said. "Where else would you rather be? This is it. I've worked all year thinking about this. And Pete. We're both here again. It's going to be a blast."
Together again, naturally.
Agassi blew kisses to the camera. Sampras smiled and shook his fist in jubilation and frequently nodded after hitting a service winner or volley on a big point. He kept the faith in his game, even when many did not after his drought had reached 33 tournaments without a title.
Famous wives, fatherhood, career moves, coaching changes and, well, hair loss have served as more of a link lately between Sampras and Agassi since their last meeting here last year in the quarterfinals, which Sampras won in four sets. This was seen as an outgrowth of aging--Agassi turned 32 in April; Sampras became 31 last month.
When they exited on the same day at Wimbledon in June, in the second round, the thought of Sampras and Agassi meeting in the U.S. Open final would have been inconceivable.
This will be the first U.S. Open final between two thirtysomething men since the open era started in 1968, and the first at any Grand Slam since the 1972 Australian Open when Ken Rosewall, 37, beat 36-year-old Mal Anderson.
