Pete Sampras hammered Marcelo Rios 6-2, 7-6(5) in the Sao Paulo final to win his first title on the BlackRock Tour of Champions.
The American was giving away four years to Rios, but his serve would not have looked out of place at Wimbledon next week as he rushed through the opening set with breaks in the fifth and seventh games. In the second set, neither player could convert break-point chances and the set went to a tie-break which Sampras won to finish the match.
Pete Sampras explains why he wants to be courtside when Roger Federer breaks his Grand Slam record.
"I’m very happy to finish the week with the title,” said Sampras, who hit 16 aces in the match. “I enjoyed playing here in front of this crowd in Brazil.”
Rios was disappointed, but paid tribute to Sampras.
“Pete is playing very good tennis and it was hard to beat him as his serve is so big. I hope to have other chances to play him. On this surface it is obvious that he has a big advantage but in the future I hope to have a second shot at him.”
In the 3rd/4th place match, Brazilian Jaime Oncins battled past countryman Fernando Meligeni 6-2, 6-7(6), 10-7 in one hour and 30 minutes.
The circuit now moves on to Istanbul, Turkey next month. It will be the first time that the BlackRock Tour of Champions has ever visited Turkey.
RESULTS, SUNDAY 22nd JUNE, 2008
Final - Pete Sampras d. Marcelo Rios 6-2, 7-6(5)
3rd/4th place - Jaime Oncins d. Fernando Meligeni 6-2, 6-7(6), 10-7 (Champions’ Tie-break)
