As the sell-out crowd filtered out of the Authur Ashe Stadium, Wednesday night had given way to Thursday morning. Yet despite the late hour, a New York buzz hung in the air. Those leaving had just witnessed a classic that lived up to the billing: Pete Sampras v Andre Agassi, the best players of their generation, fighting point-by-point, game-by-game over four tie-break sets before Sampras, supposedly in the twilight of his career after being title-free all year, came through 6-7, 7-6, 7-6, 7-6.