Posted on: September 03rd, 2002
Sampras downs Tommy Haas
- petepageSource" BBC Online
Pete Sampras played some vintage shots to dispatch third seed Tommy Haas at the US Open. 7-5 6-4 6-7 7-5
The American superstar, who has suffered a loss of form for much of this season, turned back time and came up with some of his very tennis to reach the quarter-finals.
And he will now face compatriot Andy Roddick in what promises to be an intriguing and fast-paced match.
Sampras lit up Arthur Ashe court for two-and-a-half sets in front of a vocal and partsian New York crowd on Tuesday night.
His serve was at its imperious best and he showed ample aggression when faced with the deliveries of the world number two.
An impressive spell took Sampras two sets clear when he earned and converted a pair of break points.
But the former US Open champion was forced to dig very deep in the latter stages of a gruelling match after surrendering a third-set tie-break.
As Sampras visibly tired, Hass started to look like the more likely winner, forcing his first break point of the match in the fourth set.
Crucially, though, the German missed his chance, and Sampras collected all of his vast experience to make a final push.
In the 12th game at nearly midnight local time, he earned a match point, which Haas gifted with a double fault.
It sealed a sensational victory for the resurgent Sampras, but the 31-year-old will need every minute of his rest day on Wednesday if he is to progress further.
Recent Headlines
April 01, 2012
November 20, 2011
October 29, 2011
October 01, 2011
July 13, 2011
- "Li Na and Friends" to square off with Sampras and others at two-day tennis event in Wuhan - petepage
June 18, 2011
May 04, 2011
Back to News