Rusedski demolishes Agassi in San Jose

Agassi could make no impact on Rusedski's serve

Greg Rusedski (GB) (8) bt Andre Agassi (USA) (1) 6-3 6-4

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Greg Rusedski gave an awesome display of all-round tennis to beat Andre Agassi and take his first title for two years.

It was the Briton's first final of the year, but he looked confident from the start and never gave Agassi an opportunity to get into the match.

After the game, a delighted Rusedski told reporters he was now fully recovered from the injuries that have dogged him for two years.

My plan was to stay back and that kind of surprised him

  Greg Rusedski

"In 1999, I had a lot of injuries and now I'm taking better care of myself," he said. "I just hope that in the big tournaments I can come through.

"When I woke up, I felt really confident. I knew what I had to do."

Rusedski's serve was, as usual, his main weapon, and he clocked one delivery of 139 miles per hour.

But it was the quality of his play from the baseline that surprised the top seed.

Rusedski was hitting regular forehand winners and his top-spin backhand was as impressive as it has ever been.

Rusedski celebrates his title triumph

"My plan was to stay back and that kind of surprised him," he said.

Two Rusedski breaks of serve proved decisive. In the fourth game of the first set he hit a sensational backhand winner to take Agassi's serve. He held on to take the set 6-3.

Agassi, looking for his fifth San Jose title, looked stunned, and Rusedski added to his disbelief by breaking serve in the first game of the second set.

With a partisan crowd willing him on, Agassi upped his game and came up with some sensational passing shots and outright winners from the baseline.

But Rusedski's serve was simply too strong for his rival to get the break that he so desperately needed.

He had control the whole time. There was not much you can do

  Andre Agassi

The Briton served the match out in emphatic style, winning to love to claim the match in under an hour.

It was the left-hander's 10th career title and his second on American soil.

The victory avenges Rusedski's appearance in the 1997 final at San Jose, when he was forced to retire against Pete Sampras with a wrist injury.

Agassi's defeat was his first of the season. He had previously recorded 11 straight victories.

"Once he got up on a break, the finish line was in sight," Agassi said.

"He had control the whole time. There was not much you can do."