Sampras is king at Queen8217;s

LONDON, JUNE 14: Pete Sampras has won his first title of 1999, regained his world number one ranking and is all fired up for his favourit...

LONDON, JUNE 14: Pete Sampras has won his first title of 1999, regained his world number one ranking and is all fired up for his favourite Grand Slam event, Wimbledon.

The American pulled out all the stops to beat Tim Henman in a tense three-setter 6-7 6-4 7-6 on Sunday and capture the London Grasscourt Championship at Queen8217;s Club 8211; his first title since winning in Vienna in October 1998.

But the first six months of the year have not been wasted, nor spent recovering from injuries. Sampras has used the time to take a step back and reassess his goals. Wimbledon comes high on the list. The Championships start on June 21.

Sampras, who has 11 Grand Slam titles including five Wimbledon triumphs, is just one away from Roy Emerson8217;s record of 12 but decided not to play at the Australian Open.

8220;I was just too tired,8221; he said. 8220;I played like a maniac and needed a rest. And I spent that time taking a look at my career and working out what is important to me 8211; and that is the Grand Slams.

8220;It was thefirst time in my career that I have taken a step back and looked around. My year so far has been very up and down and I came into the Queen8217;s tournament feeling pretty disappointed.

8220;I8217;ve beaten some of the very best on grass this week in Tim Henman and Goran Ivanisevic and that is great news going into Wimbledon. The Grand Slams are what it is all about for me. They are what get me excited and what motivates me.8221;

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8220;I feel confident at Wimbledon, I always do. And as long as I am playing well I am going to be very tough to beat no matter who I play.

I never questioned my ability, I always knew I would get back to winning.8221;

Tauziat loses

BIRMINGHAM: France8217;s Julie Halard-Decugis beat compatriot Nathalie Tauziat to win the WTA title here on Sunday at her first attempt.

The number five seed took full advantage of top seed Tauziat8217;s service to win in three sets.

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Halard-Decugis, making her singles debut here, broke Tauziat8217;s serve for the third time in the match to clinch anail-biting final set after almost an hour and 40 minutes on court to win 6-2 3-6 6-4.

Now the Swiss-based French star can8217;t wait for Wimbledon but she may rest instead of heading for her next scheduled appearance at Rosmalen in Holland.

It was appropriate that Tauziat8217;s serve should crack to surrender her grasp on the trophy she won in 1997. She was in the semi-finals last year when it was abandoned due to rain.

The French star, ranked ninth in the world, served up 11 double faults in the final and Halard-Decugis was in just the sort of form to punish the mistakes and claim the 16,000 pounds 25,000 dollars first prize.

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Tauziat, 31, beaten by Jana Novotna in last year8217;s Wimbledon final, insisted her main focus was Wimbledon and she remained happy with her general form before the Grand Slam tournament.