Sampras: Will he be victorious again?

Sampras puts his form in this tournament down to the hunger that he still has to break records, despite having surpassed Roy Emerson's total of 12 Grand Slams at this year's Wimbledon.

"I want to win it and win more majors after that," Sampras said.

"I feel like I've got a lot of good years left in me to really contend for major tournaments.

"That's what drives me and thats what keeps me going. I dont want to have any regrets when I look back on my tennis."

In Safin, he faces a player who is, by common consensus, one of those likely to carry the torch for mens tennis at the start of this century.

Victory

Not only is the 20-year-old the first Russian to reach the US Open final, he also holds a victory over Sampras from the last time the two played.

I want to win it and Id like to know how it feels to be the champion here

Marat Safin

Marat Safin: First Grand Slam final for the Russian

Sampras acknowledged that Safin has a huge amount of confidence based on that previous encounter.

"He believes he can beat me and thats a big bonus for him.

"But this time it will be a final of a major and he hasn't played many of them."

As with many of the men that Sampras has beaten in Grand Slam finals, Safin comes equipped with weapons of his own, including a powerful serve and strong groundstrokes.

"Marat possesses a big serve. I'll need to get it back. Hes a powerful player and I you let him play and give him high shots to the forehand or backhand, he'll crack it," said the man hoping to equal Jimmy Connors' record tally of US Open wins.

Goal

"My goal is to hold onto serve and get a couple of chances to break him and convert."

Safin comes into this final in a similar positon to his opponent did ten years ago. Back then, the man on the other side of the net was a similarly raw and green American by the name of Andre Agassi.

My goal is to hold onto serve and get a couple of chances to break him and convert

Pete Sampras