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Americans Sweep Wimbledon


On the day the United States celebrated its independence from Britain, a couple of American's traveled into their territory and come home with the Wimbledon titles.

Sampras Wins Sixth Wimbledon Pete Sampras looked unbeatable, winning his sixth Wimbledon championship in seven years with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 victory over fellow American Andre Agassi. It also brought Sampras his record-tying 12th Grand Slam title and at just 27 years of age, he is sure to break that record now held by him and Roy Emerson.

"I couldn't have played any better," Sampras said. "In the beginning, in the middle of the second set, I was on fire. In all aspects of my game, from my serving to my groundstrokes, I was playing in a zone."

Agassi's Run Falls Short Andre Agassi, on the other hand, came into the finals riding a tidal wave of momentum after winning the French Open last month but fell short in his bid to become the first man since 1980 to win both the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year.

"He played some impeccable tennis at the most important times," Agassi said, "and I didn't come up with better stuff than he did."

"He's accomplished more than anybody else in my opinion," he said. "He has dominated on grass. He finished the year No. 1 six years in a row. His achievements speak for themselves."

Davenport Wins First Wimbledon On the women's side it was last year's U.S. Open champion Lindsay Davenport who came into her first-ever Wimbledon women's final to beat seven-time champion Steffi Graf 6-4, 7-5 for her second Grand Slam title of her career.

"When I won I was almost more numb than in shock," she said. "I never thought that it would be my Wimbledon because I had struggled on this surface before."

Graf Retires From Wimbledon After the match the 30-year-old Graf announced that it was her last Wimbledon she will play in her career. Earlier this year, after winning the French Open, Graf said it was her last appearance at Roland Garros.

"Basically, I won't be back," she said. "I won't be here as a player again."

She declined to say whether she would play the U.S. Open next month, but did say she planned to play in several more tournaments.

Written by James Hutton

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