Wimbledon, July 9: Top seed Pete Sampras won his seventh Wimbledon singles title in eight years by beating 12th seed Pat Rafter 6-7 (12-10) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 6-2 in the men's final on Sunday.The match was interrupted twice in the first set because of rain and finished in fading light on Centre Court.Rafter and Sampras were forced to haunt the locker room as their final was repeatedly interrupted by rain.The best-of-five-set match started an hour late, then was hurried off after just 26 minutes. The players returned for a game and part of another - nine more minutes of play - before heavier rain began to fall.Rafter began with a love game after an hour-long starting delay due to drizzle. Sampras answered as the match quickly settled down to a duel of serve under the clouds and in chilly conditions. The Australian survived a first mini-crisis, escaping from 0-30 in the fifth game to hold for 3-2.He then won a lengthy game with multiple deuces for a 4-3 lead as light rain forced the covers onto centre court after 26 minutes of play.When they returned around half an hour later, the same scenario continued, with Sampras holding for 4-4.Rafter saved three break points a game later, the third when Sampras netted a return with the 12th seed looming dangerously at the net.But after only nine more minutes of play, more rain interrupted the proceedings at deuce in the ninth game.
