Sampras storms on, Seles beats Hingis at U.S. Open

Pete Sampras answered taunts he was washed up and over the hill on Tuesday by riding a wave of New York night-time energy past third seed Tommy Haas and into the U.S. Open quarter-finals.

The American winner of a record 13 grand slam titles served with venom and unravelled his hunched shoulders into a series of stupendous forehands to see off the German 7-5 6-4 6-7 7-5 on a crackling Arthur Ashe stadium court.

Sampras's third round victim Greg Rusedski had said on Monday night that the 17th seed was no longer a great player and that he was slower and less fit than when he broke the record for majors at Wimbledon 2000.

But on Tuesday, the 31-year-old gave world number three Haas the runaround with some dynamic tennis from the top drawer to win his 200th grand slam match.

And the smile on his face as he sat courtside after his three-hour-five-minute victory outshone the brilliant floodlights which illuminated his performance.

"These are huge matches for me... I've still got the game," he said as he composed himself before leaving the court.

"This is the U.S. Open -- you dig deep."

His reward for such digging is a last eight clash with compatriot Andy Roddick who earlier saw off Juan Ignacio Chela 5-7 6-4 6-4 6-4 in some style.

The 11th seed pulled off some of the shots of the tournament so far, whipping the boisterous Louis Armstrong stadium court crowd into a frenzy before joining them at various flashpoints for frenzied 'high-fives' and back-slapping after points.

Roddick has won both previous matches against Sampras -- four times a champion here and runner-up the last two years -- but is not fancying his chances against his boyhood hero.

"It is a dream to play Pete Sampras here at the Open," the 20-year-old said.

"I have beaten him twice, but this is Pete's house... this is the U.S. Open."

BARELY ENOUGH

On a day when the much-missed summer finally returned to the U.S. Open, top-seeded woman Serena Williams sparkled on her way to the semi-finals, but her sister and defending champion Venus struggled in bright sunlight to squeeze into the quarters.

Winner here in 2000 and 2001, second seed Venus did barely enough to beat Chanda Rubin 6-2 4-6 7-5 while Serena, champion in 1999, mangled Daniela Hantuchova 6-2 6-2 to keep the pair on track for another grand slam final showdown.

The sisters shared centre stage here last year and contested the French Open and Wimbledon crowns in 2002, Serena winning both in Paris and London.

Venus can count herself lucky she may still has a chance to avenge those defeat.

After two days virtually washed out by heavy downpours, day nine got off on time under blue New York skies and Venus started her match comfortably.

But she lost her way in the second set and needed all her experience to snuff out her fellow American in a see-saw third.

"I should have just closed it out," Venus conceded. "Really stayed tough... but it wasn't my fault. She played really well.

"This was not my best day, that's for sure... I am glad I am still here and talking to you."

Serena, on the other hand, could be content with having had a good day. "How well did I play? Solid," she said.

She next clashes with Lindsay Davenport -- the last non-Williams to win the Open in 1998 -- for a place in Saturday's final.

Fourth seed Davenport overcame a scrappy start to beat Russia's Elena Bovina 3-6 6-0 6-2.

HINGIS DEPARTS

While Venus, Serena and Davenport advanced, the lights went out on another former champion, ninth seed Martina Hingis.

Having reached at least the semi-finals for the last six years, the 1997 champion was felled 6-4 6-2 by Monica Seles.

Twice former winner Seles will clash with Venus for a spot in the semis of the hardcourt grand slam.

In the men's draw, Dutchman Sjeng Schalken battled past former world number one Gustavo Kuerten 6-3 7-6 6-7 7-6 to reach his second successive grand slam quarter-final.

After failing to venture past the third round in 28 previous grand slams, Schalken has discovered a fondness for tennis's big events over the summer having also made the final eight at Wimbledon before losing a five-set thriller to eventual champion Lleyton Hewitt.

"To reach the quarter-finals twice is a great feeling," said Schalken, who has won at least one tournament in each of the last seven years.

"Steadily I'm moving forward in my career, every year I'm improving my ranking."

Schalken will face Fernando Gonzalez next after the Chilean beat France's Arnaud Clement 6-4 6-2 6-3 with a solid display.