AGASSI BEATS SAMPRAS IN EXHIBITION MATCH

Tennis

Andre Agassi, who is about to lose the world No 1 ranking to Thomas Muster, beat Pete Sampras, the former No 1, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 at an exhibition match in Atlanta.

Cheered by a home crowd, top-seeded Goran Ivanisevic won the first Croatian Indoor tournament by defeating Cedric Pioline, of France, 3-6, 6-3, 6- 2. Ivanisevic's win ended a a one and a half year dry spell on the regular professional circuit, though he won the Grand Slam Cup in Munich in December. Pioline has yet to win an ATP Tour event despite having reached eight finals.

CROATIAN MEN'S OPEN (Zagreb) Singles semi-finals: C Pioline (Fr) bt M Goellner (Ger) 6-4 7-6; G Ivanisevic (Croa) bt G Forget (Fr) 7-6 4-6, 6-4. Final: Ivanisevic bt Pioline 3-6 6-3 6-2.

SHANGHAI MEN'S OPEN (Shanghai, China) Singles, semi-finals: A Olhovskiy (Rus) bt T Henman (GB) 4-6 6-4 6-4; M Knowles (Bah) bt M Tebbutt (Aus) 3-6 6-1 6-4; A Olhovskiy (Rus) bt T Henman (GB) 4-6 6-4 6-4. Final: Olhovskiy bt Knowles 7-6 6-2. Doubles final: M Knowles and R Smith (Bah) bt J Grabb (US) and M Tebbutt (Aus) 4-6 6-2 7-6.

PAN PACIFIC WOMEN'S INDOOR TOURNAMENT (Tokyo) Semi-finals: A Sanchez Vicario (Sp) bt C Martinez (Sp) 6-4 5-7 6-4; I Majoli (Croa) bt M Hingis (Swit) 3-6 6-3 6-0. Final: Majoli bt Sanchez Vicario 6-4 6-1.