Peerless Pete to consider future

"Maybe, Andre and I will do it again next year. My head's spinning at the moment and I want to take time and reflect on it all. I want to stop on my terms, and that is something I have promised myself.

"I peaked against Andre, after having to play five matches in seven days. He is the best I have ever played, and brings the best out of me. It was one of the toughest second weeks I have known. Maybe it was destiny to be in the final against Andre."

Sampras, 31 years old, grabbed hold of the match right from the start against the 32-year-old Agassi, and the crowd loved it. They later switched allegiance to Agassi in the hope that he could take it to five sets but Sampras's famed serve held firm, and he now holds a 20-14 career advantage over the Las Vegan.

It was Sampras's fifth US Open title and he celebrated his first Slam since Wimbledon 2000 by running up the stands to reach wife Bridgette Wilson who is expecting their first child.

And Sampras also acknowledged how vital it has been to be back with coach Annacone, the man "who knows my game so well".

Sampras worked with other coaches this year before asking Annacone to realign his game and self-belief. Annacone, who works for the USTA, agreed, and gave the greatest player the game has seen a solid base for another Slam challenge.

In this match the facts did speak for themselves. Agassi approached the net 12 times compared to Sampras's 105, the champion fired 33 aces compared to his opponent's 13, and while there were 13 double faults for the winner he also produced 84 winners to Agassi's 27.

Sixth seed Agassi, who only converted two of his 12 break points, had no doubt that Sampras still had a Slam in him, and said: "There is still a lot of danger in the way Pete plays and anyone that says something different is really ignorant. Pete has many weapons.

"I have a lot of respect for the work he's put in to give himself this opportunity and it's a great thing for him. If I was Pete, I'd even feel better!

"People think I have been at the end of my career for eight years and Pete senses the important times of the match and elevates his level accordingly.

"Pete's meant a lot to the game and this is the US Open and there were two Americans out there, that's why the support was so great. It was special and it meant a lot more to me because of what happened a year ago.

"For two and a half sets he was better than me and eventually converted the chances he got in the fourth. If there was a day between the semi and final it would be positive, because it makes it difficult here. But this Open assures me I still have a lot to look forward to."