BBC SPORT | Special Events | 2000 | US Open Tennis | US Open men's final: game by game

Game by game coverage of Marat Safin's 6-4 6-3 6-3 win over Pete Sampras in the US Open men's final at Flushing Meadows (all times British Summer Time).

2317: Sampras finally forces two break points against the Safin serve but the Russian holds on and claims his first grand slam title with his first match point. 6-4 6-3 6-3 Safin

2309: Sampras forces Safin to serve for victory by winning his own service game. 6-4 6-3 5-3 Safin

2305: Sampras takes Safin to 30-30 but pushes a simple chip and charge too long. 6-4 6-3 5-2 Safin

2302: Safin has two break points for an insurmountable 5-1 lead but Sampras digs deep to stay in the game. 6-4 6-3 4-2 Safin

2257: Safin wins a dismissive service game to love including his 11th ace. 6-4 6-3 4-1 Safin

2254: A double fault gives Safin another break point, but, for once, the Russian puts his return into the net. Sampras serves out to break a six-game losing streak. 6-4 6-3 3-1 Safin

2249: The demolition continues. A flawless display of baseline tennis from Safin continues to bewitch Sampras. 6-4 6-3 3-0 Safin

2246: Safin's powerful ground strokes are relentless as he effortlessly picks off his famous opponent at the net to record another break. 6-4 6-3 2-0 Safin

2242: Safin piles on the pressure with a dismissive service game to love. 6-4 6-3 1-0 Safin

2239: A netcord at 30-30 gives Safin a chance to pass Sampras at the net which he does with a delightful backhand lob. A shaken Sampras then double faults to hand Safin the second set. 6-4 6-3 Safin

2235: Safin overcomes an early double fault to hold his serve, as Sampras continues to misfire with his backhand. 6-4 5-3 Safin

2232: Four more rasping returns earn Safin a second break of the vaunted Sampras serve. 6-4 4-3 Safin

Marat Safin
Safin fires another booming backhand
2229: Safin answers with a powerful service game to love. 6-4 3-3 Safin

2225: Pistol Pete reels another textbook display of serve and volley tennis. 6-4 2-3 Safin

2223: Sampras takes Safin to deuce with a stunning backhand down the line, but the Russian replies with two hard serves. 6-4 2-2 Safin

2218: Sampras fires another perfect service game down to take a lead in the second set. 6-4 1-2 Safin

2215: The players trade service games at the start of the second set - although Safin shows his speed with an incredible effort to retrieve a Sampras drop shot. 6-4 1-1 Safin

2210: Safin holds his serve, and his nerve, after Sampras makes three unforced errors. The first set takes only 31 minutes.

Pete Sampras
Early on, Sampras served well, but Safin returned better
Sampras has 10 unforced errors to Safin's five, but is hitting 77% of his first serves in. Safin, however, is dealing with them. 6-4 Safin

2205: Sampras holds his serve to 30, leaving Safin to serve for the first set. 5-4 Safin

2203: Sampras takes Safin to deuce, but the 20-year-old responds with an ace and then a clinical volley. 5-3 Safin

2200: After holding his serve, three superb passing shots take Safin to 15-40 and two break points on Sampras' serve.

After saving one break point, the American can only look in wonder as a rasping forehand service return flies past his feet to give the Russian the game's first break. 4-3 Safin

2150: Both players continue to look comfortable on serve. 3-2 Sampras

2145: Safin wins his first service game to 30, and then takes a love-30 lead in the next game. But the American responds with four perfect serves to close out game. 2-1 Sampras

2140: Sampras completes an ominously confident first service game, winning to love.

2130: Pete Sampras and Marat Safin take the court to begin their knock-up. Safin wins the coin toss and elects to receive.