Sampras tames Kucera

VIENNA, Oct 18: Pete Sampras made full use of a wild card handed over by Boris Becker to beat Slovak Karol Kucera 6-3 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 in th...

VIENNA, Oct 18: Pete Sampras made full use of a wild card handed over by Boris Becker to beat Slovak Karol Kucera 6-3 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 in the final of the CA-Trophy today.

Sampras, who is bidding to end 1998 as the world’s number one for a record sixth consecutive year, ensured his top ranking for the next two weeks with his first title since Wimbledon.

The American, an 11-time Grand-Slam winner, won $125,400 and, more importantly, 361 ATP points.

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The 27-year-old American was given the wild card by Becker for “sporting reasons” after losing in the first round in Basle last week.

Sampras now has 22 indoor titles and 56 in all. He has won three other titles this year – Wimbledon, Philadelphia and Atlanta.

BECKER PULLS OUT: German veteran Boris Becker, who had obtained a wildcard, has decided against playing the million-dollar ATP event in Ostrava, tournament director Peter Kovarcik said today.

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