Budding superstar Marat Safin put the awesome talent of Pete Sampras in the shade to win the US Open men's title on Sunday - and promptly declared he could not remember anything about the match.

The 20-year-old Russian completely dominated the Wimbledon champion on the way to winning his first Grand Slam title in just one hour and 38 minutes.

He became the youngest US Open champion since Sampras defeated Andre Agassi in the final in 1990 for the first of his four US Open crowns.

Safin's triumph marked just the third defeat in 16 Grand Slam finals for Sampras and the first time he has lost in straight sets.

After his win, an overwhelmed Safin said: "Never in my life have I played better. I don't really remember it. I only remember the last game.

"I was very nervous and couldn't move on the court. I was very lucky - in the end I served well and I'm the winner, thanks to God.

"You think I know how well I returned his serve? - I don't know!"

"Everything I tried he had an answer for.

"He reminded me of when I was 19 and came here and won it for the first time.

"But I'm sorry to these folks I didn't give them more of a match - I tried my hardest.

"He was too good - anytime you can serve 130mph on the line, there's not a lot you can do.

"He passed and returned my serve better than anyone I've ever played."