Peter the Great, as in Sampras, conquered Russia almost single-handedly in the Davis Cup final.
Playing the match of his career on clay, Pete Sampras led the U.S. team to the Davis Cup title Sunday by defeating top Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov in straight sets - his third victory in three days.After collapsing on court the first day with leg cramps, Sampras ended the final emphatically by drilling an ace down the middle to beat Kafelnikov 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4). It gave the United States an insurmountable 3-1 lead in the best-of-5 series and its first first Cup since 1992.
Andrei Chesnokov closed the final margin to 3-2 with a 6-7 (7-1), 7-5, 6-0 victory over Jim Courier in a singles played only as a formality and shortened to a best-of-3 sets.
It was the second straight year of disappointment for the Russians in the final in Moscow's Olympic Stadium, despite the presence of a sometimes boisterous crowd of 14,000. They are still seeking their first cup.
The Russians had installed a red clay court last month especially to slow down the powerful Sampras, whose record on clay is unspectacular.
But with three wins to make it a "three-Pete" weekend, the world's No. 1 player acted as if it were his favorite surface, not his weakest.
"I think the Russians were looking at myself as being the weak link on the slow red clay," Sampras said. "But I played some good tennis when I had to."
It was the first time an American had registered three victories in a Davis Cup series since John McEnroe in 1982.
Sampras outlasted Chesnokov in five grueling sets Friday, collapsing on the court with legs cramps after the final point, then teamed with Todd Martin to overwhelm Russia's respected doubles team of Kafelnikov and Andrei Olhovskiy in straight sets in Saturday's doubles.
He saved his best for last on Sunday. Playing in urgent need of a quick victory because of an ever-tightening hamstring, he came up with what he described as his top match ever on clay.
Brilliant for the first two sets, Sampras cracked cross-court and down-the-line winners, blasted 16 aces and dominated his opponent.
"Pete played wonderfully today, and he didn't leave any chances for me," Kafelnikov said.
Sampras lost only four points in his first eight service games, reeling off 11 points in a row during one stretch of the second set as his cheering U.S. teammates, including injured Andre Agassi, leaped to their feet to cheer him on.
Kafelnikov, now 0-4 lifetime against Sampras, was reduced to waving helplessly as winners smoked past him, shaking his head in disgust. At one point, after muffing a volley, the 21-year-old Russian belted a ball into the upper deck in frustration.
The third set turned out to be critical, however. Stretching his sore hamstring gingerly during changeovers, Sampras began chasing down fewer balls and it was clear he might not be able to win a long match.
"If I would have lost the third, I think I would have had the energy to keep on playing," Sampras said. "But how effective I would have been, I just don't know."Trailing 3-1, Kafelnikov began firing winners from the baseline and coming to the net more often, gaining confidence as he broke Sampras' serve, tying the set 3-3.
The two players exchanged service breaks and headed into a tiebreaker, where Sampras' serve-and-volley strength prevailed as he won three points to go up 5-2. On his second match point, he drilled an ace down the middle and thrust his hands into the air, then was embraced by his teammates.
Sampras admitted that the thrill didn't compare with winning Wimbledon or the U.S. Open, which he did this year. But it was particularly poignant to win it in a year when his long-time coach, Tim Gullikson, is battling brain cancer and Gullikson's brother, Tom, captained the Americans to the title.
"I'm extremely happy for the team and for Tom," Sampras said, his voice cracking. "I thought about Tom, and about Tim, during the match."
Gullikson, after expressing "elation and relief," also choked up and was unable to speak for several seconds when discussing his brother.
"For me, it's been a tough year with my twin brother Tim in a much bigger competition, fighting for his life," he said. "So for us to win this thing means a lot."