Pete Sampras was pelted by 37 aces from the fastest server in tennis on Saturday but defeated Greg Rusedski in four sets to earn a shot at the jackpot in the $6 million Grand Slam Cup finals at Munich, Germany.
Sampras proved steadier in the tiebreaks and won 3-6, 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-4), 6-2. In today's final, with a $1.5 million prize at stake, he will face Patrick Rafter."When he's serving like that all you can do is pray for rain," Sam-pras said. "Unfortunately we were playing indoors."
Rafter, the U.S. Open champion, needed four match points to win a four-hour, 17-minute marathon against Petr Korda. The Aussie won 7-5, 3-6, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-4), 9-7 after Korda slammed a lob into the net.
"Pat pulled a Houdini today," Sampras said. "I'm looking forward to a good fight in the final."
Rafter, who is guaranteed $1 million after his semifinal victory, has soared from No. 63 to No. 3 in the world. But he has no illusions about overtaking Sampras.
"Everyone loves to be No. 1 in the world," Rafter said. "But while Pete is there, it's going to be very tough."
Sampras dropped the first set in 21 minutes, then regrouped against the Briton and survived three aces by Rusedski to win the third-set tiebreaker and take control.