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Nice guys don't always finish last.

Vishwanathan Anand has proved this adage several times over. Rahul Dravid proved it once again in the ICC Awards last week. But this post is a tribute to the King of Understatement, the immortal Pete Sampras.

Pete Sampras will always hold my unfliching loyalty as my favourite tennis player ever, ahead of both of his two illustrious predecessors who've been my past favorites -- Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker. Here're some reasons why:

• Sublime tennis. The slam-dunk jump overhead, his running forehand, big second serve and diving volleys. And those mouth-watering Open finals with Agassi ... wowwww!! :)
• All those records -- 14 Grand Slams. World number 1 for 6 straight years.
• Guts. He always played the French Open though he knew he'd never win there.
• His human side. Can't forget how he wept unabashedly on court against Jim Courier at the 1995 Australian Open after hearing the news that Tim Gullikson, his coach and confidant, was diagnosed as having four inoperable brain tumors.
• Superb fitness levels. Did you know he suffers from a rare form of anemia that hampers his stamina?
• Cool dude. Immune to pressure.
• And above all ... a great sportsman and a really nice guy.

And because Andre Agassi is of the same generation as Sampras, and because of some of the immortal games the two have played, and because of his never-say-die spirit, Agassi will continue to be my sentimental favorite among the current crop of players until his retirement.

Last week, Agassi lost heartbreakingly in a seesaw quarterfinal with the eventual winner of this year's US Open, the eleven-year-younger Roger Federer. Agassi was the only player who could stretch Federer, who is already being touted as a potential rival to Sampras' records, to five sets.

But as they say, it's not over until it's actually over.

Here's a toast to Andre Agassi, historic third-time winner of the US Open 2005.