Melbourne, January 14: The talent-rich Australian Open field includes defending champion Andre Agassi, US Open champion Marat Safin, Olympic gold medalist Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Gustavo Kuerten, who finished No 1 last year.Yet none is the favourite of Aussie oddsmakers. At the start of his 13th year on the ATP tour, Pete Sampras remains the man to beat. It’s been three years since Sampras won a major title other than Wimbledon, and 16 months since he was ranked No 1. Rivals such as Jim Courier and Boris Becker have retired, and Patrick Rafter younger than Sampras may call it quits this year. But Sampras forges on, still a formidable force. He’ll bid for his 14th major title beginning Monday night against Karol Kucera, and he pronounces himself rested, relaxed and ready. ‘‘The hunger is still there, and I’m still very motivated,’’ he said. ‘‘I must admit I’m very happy with my career and what I’ve done so far, but I would like to add on to what I have and enjoy these next three to five years however long I play.’’The Australian Open may offer a hint at how much Sampras, 29, has left in the tank. The match against Kucera will be his first at a major tournament since he was routed by Safin in the US Open final last September. Perhaps that upset signified a changing of the guard. Perhaps it was merely an aberration. Among those who have yet to detect a decline in Sampras’ game is his idol, Rod Laver. ‘‘You don’t see Pete play just average matches. He’s ways playing at his peak,’’ Laver said. ‘‘It’s good for tennis that he has been in the game as long as he has, playing great tennis.’’ Sampras won the Australian Open in 1994 and 1997, and his path to this year’s final is daunting, with Agassi a potential quarter final opponent and Safin looming in the semi-finals. Safin must overcome a sore elbow, but Agassi appears to be back in top form. He beat Kafelnikov in last year’s final. ‘‘Any time you play and win somewhere, regardless of where your game is at, you instinctively remember how to play well again, Agassi said. ‘‘I like the courts, I like the people. It’s just great event.’’ Agassi, the second choice among bookies, is seeded sixth. Sampras is seeded third, with Kuerten No 1 and Safin No 2. Sampras begins his bid for a third Australian Open title with much less fanfare than a year ago, when he sought to break Roy Emerson’s record of 12 Grand Slam championships. Sampras lost five-setter to Agassi in the semi-finals, then surpassed Emerson by winning Wimbledon for the seventh time in July. Sampras played in just 13 tournaments in 2000, the fewest of any top-10 player.
