Agassi was favored as he was ranked No. 4 at the time, compared to the No. 12 ranking of Sampras and because Agassi had defeated Sampras in their only previously completed match.
ˈæɡæsi wʌz fˈeɪvɚd æz hiː wʌz ɹˈæŋkt nˈoʊ. fˈoːɹ æt ðə tˈaɪm, kəmpˈɛɹd tə ðə nˈoʊ. twˈɛlv ɹˈæŋkɪŋ ʌv sˈæmpɹəz ænd bɪkˈʌz ˈæɡæsi hæd dᵻfˈiːɾᵻd sˈæmpɹəz ɪn ðɛɹ ˈoʊnli pɹˈiːviəsli kəmplˈiːɾᵻd mˈætʃ.