Kuerten Wins Masters, Gains No. 1

Gustavo Kuerten wrapped himself in the Brazilian flag, amazed at his whirlwind week that left him with the Masters Cup title and the No. 1 ranking.

He swept Andre Agassi 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 Sunday to win the season-ending tournament and finish the year at the top of his sport.

"I didn't believe I could do this," Kuerten said.

He is the first South American to finish the year at No. 1 since the ATP began its computer rankings in 1973. And in doing so he defeated the player who finished 1999 with the top ranking.

"It's been a great week, the last tournament, the last match," Kuerten said. "I had to give everything."

This was the first time Kuerten won the Masters Cup, a tournament featuring the top eight players in tennis.

Marat Safin, who came into the Masters Cup with a 75-point lead over Kuerten, lost to Agassi in the semifinals. The Russian would have finished No. 1 if Kuerten lost.

Kuerten, who won his second French Open title this summer, led the Champions Race for 16 weeks, longer than any other player. He earned $1.4 million for the Masters Cup, his fifth title of the year.

In the semifinals, Kuerten ousted defending five-time champion Pete Sampras, who in one stretch was the No. 1 player for six straight years. Kuerten lost to Agassi in the round-robin portion of the tournament and battled hamstring and back problems all week.

"It's big, it's huge for me. It's a great feeling," Kuerten said. "I really deserved to beat Pete and Andre in The0same tournament."

He became the first man to beat Sampras and Agassi, the two dominant players of the last decade, in consecutive matches since Michael Chang in 1990.

Kuerten wrapped himself in his country's flag as he waited for the awards ceremony. He celebrated with his family while a stunned Agassi sat in his chair.

"He just played the big points better," said Agassi, at 30 the tournament's oldest player.

Agassi, who won this event in 1990, lost to Sampras in last year's final.

Kuerten began the match by breaking serve. He fought off three break points in the fourth game and won the set on a forehand pass.

"He got the lead and he executed well," Agassi said. "He was aggressive, he kept the points from getting too long. My game never came alive."

The 24-year-old Brazilian displayed the full range of his talent in the second set. He served ig, hit winners from both sides, changed pace and passed Agassi seemingly at will.

By the end of the match, he had 12 backhand winners, with only one for Agassi. He broke serve at love for a 3-2 lead, then squandered three more break points in the seventh game.

Agassi had a shred of hope as Kuerten served for the set and fell behind 30-40. But Kuerten hit a service winner and followed with two straight aces to close the set.

"Every point for me was a point of my life, maybe," he said.

Kuerten seemed to have the right answer every time he was threatened. Facing another break point in the second game of the third set, he produced another ace.

"He served incredibly well on the biggest points," Agassi said. "His backhand was out of my strike zone."

Agassi encountered trouble again in the fifth game. He saved one break point by rushing the net. But then he double faulted to give Kuerten a 3-2 lead.

Kuerten pumped his fist to the delight of the fans. A Portuguese speaker, he has been the crowd favorite and many in the stands wore Brazilian shirts.

He hit a crosscourt forehand to gain his first match point and converted it when Agassi hit a return long off Kuerten's second serve.

Kuerten finished with 19 aces to Agassi's seven. Kuerten also hit 50 winners to 15 for Agassi.

"I think I surprised Andre by the way I played, a little bit faster than normal, with big confidence, believing in myself," Kuerten said.

Both players received a standing ovation from the capacity crowd of 11,000.

"It's a great accomplishment," Agassi told the crowd and Kuerten. "It's your day, you deserve it."

Before receiving the trophy and still wearing the Brazilian flag, Kuerten spoke to the fans.

"This is the happiest day in my life," he said.

He then hugged his mother, Alice, and patted the head of his grandmother, Olga, who often accompanies him to tournaments.

"I always dedicate my victories to someone special and I dedicate this win to my mother," he said.

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