Tennis: Sampras reaches US Open final

Pete Sampras has beaten Marat Safin in the semi-final of the US Open.

Sampras won 6-3, 7-6, 6-3, in just under two hours, to reach his fifth US Open final.

He will play Lleyton Hewitt in the final. He beat Yevgeny Kafelnikov 6-1 6-2 6-1.

Sampras' win was revenge for his humiliating straight sets defeat by Safin in last year's final.

Tomorrow's final, however, could depend on how much Sampras' effort in the high humidity has drained him, with only 22 hours to recover.

He won the first set in much the same imperious manner in which he beat Andre Agassi in their epic quarter-final, but in the second, he called the trainer onto court to take medicine for a stomach ailment.

His serving visibly reduced in power, but he still managed to save a set point in the 10th game with his 12th ace.

Sampras went on to win the resulting tie-break 7-5.

A fabulous lob on the run in the fourth game of the third set gave Sampras another vital break and he went on to complete a memorable victory with his 20th ace.

It meant Sampras had beaten three former champions - Pat Rafter, Andre Agassi and now Safin - on the way to the final, as well as having held his serve for 87 consecutive games.

"Wish you hadn't told me that, the kiss of death," he said on learning of those phenomenal statistics. "The serve and the volley are both clicking at the right time. It's the toughest draw I've had in many years. I'm pleased, not surprised, that I've come through that.

"I looked on playing Pat and Andre as finals and I can't tell you how happy I was to get two days off. Having the extra day really saved me. I'll recover as best I can.

"I played a lot better than I did last year and he wasn't quite on. Last year he was on fire, just too good. I was just blown off court. Everything he did was on and I wasn't quite there."

Hewitt had better expect the real Sampras to turn up at 9.30pm British time on Saturday - though there is no chance of tennis' living legend underestimating the Aussie, who will be playing his first Grand Slam final.

"Lleyton's a young guy," said Sampras. "He's a great player who will contend for Grand Slams for many years to come. His game isn't as big as Safin's when it's on but Lleyton has quickness, passes well and loves a target.

"He's a tough guy and mentally as strong as you'll find in the game. It is important for me to stay patient and be aggressive. It could be his year but I kinda feel I've got my game going."