It’s getting to be a habit: Pete Sampras vs. Andre Agassi. No. 1 vs. No. 2.
For the third time this year, the world’s top two players will face off in a tournament final. This time, it’s the Lipton Championships.
Magnus Larsson knows better than most what it takes to beat Agassi. The Swede didn’t have it as Agassi won their semifinal match 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7-1) Friday.
“Now he has a chance to be No. 1 and he’s not giving away any points or any matches,” Larsson said. “If you make 50 aces and 50 forehand winners, you can beat him. It is not so easy to do.”
Sampras made sure he gets a chance to try by beating another Swede, unseeded Jonas Bjorkman, 4-6, 6-0, 6-1.
Sampras, seeking his third consecutive Lipton title, edged Agassi in last year’s final. Both of their meetings this year have come in finals, with Agassi winning at the Australian Open and Sampras winning at Indian Wells, Calif.
“Hopefully Andre and I can bring tennis to a new level and get it more exciting for the fans and for little kids,” Sampras said. “We really bring out the best in each other. Time will tell if we can get the rivalry going like a Borg-McEnroe, but I’m looking forward to it, and I’m sure he is. It’s like two heavyweights going at it.”
