The US Open began in 1881 as the U.S. Championships, a relatively small event held at The Casino in Newport, R.I. Today it has grown into the biggest tennis tournament in the world, with a long, rich tradition of attracting the best players from around the world to perform on the world s greatest stage: the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City.As the last major of the calendar year, the US Open annually brings down the curtain on the Grand Slam season with some of the most unforgettable matches in tennis history.In 2002, the Open played host to the conclusion of an epic journey for an American tennis legend Pete Sampras, as he faced his greatest rival, Andre Agassi, in a fitting end to a brilliant career.In many ways, the rivalry between Sampras and Agassi defined both men, with the two finest players of their generation saving their best tennis for each other. In all, they would meet four times at the US Open, the first coming in the 1990 men s final, when they were both rising stars. Now, in the twilight of their careers, they would meet one last time with Pete capturing his 14th Grand Slam singles title and his fifth US Open championship.