Agassi attains No 1 ranking

TENNIS

Andre Agassi finally passed his American rival Pete Sampras to take over the world No 1 ranking yesterday - without hitting a ball. Sampras, the top-ranked men's player without interruption since 13 September 1993, was also not in action last week but the vagaries of the ATP's computer system knocked him off his perch when the weekly rankings were announced by the Tour.

The rankings are worked out on the basis of results over 12 months and Sampras lost the points he had earned at the same time last year, converting his 131-point lead last week over the United States and Australian champion into a deficit of 187.

Agassi became the 12th player at No 1 since the ranking system was introduced in 1973.