Sampras puts Safin celebrations on hold

Defending champion Pete Sampras pulverised world No. 1 Marat Safin 6-3, 6-2 Friday to reach the semifinals of the $3.7 million (2.32 million pounds) Masters Cup and put the young Russian's celebrations on hold.

Safin had to beat Sampras to assure himself of finishing the year as the first non-American No. 1 since Stefan Edberg in 1991. He now must beat Andre Agassi in Saturday's semifinal or hope Brazil's Gustavo Kuerten, the only man who can still stop him, fails to win the tournament.

Agassi also stormed to a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Sweden's Magnus Norman to complete round-robin play with a perfect 3-0 record. Kuerten plays fifth-ranked Yevgeny Kafelnikov later Friday to determine who will face Sampras in the other semifinal.

Sampras, who was thrashed in straight sets by Safin in a stunning U.S. Open final, started like a man on a mission.

He won 12 of the first 13 points, bombarding the Russian with rocket-like serves and crisp volleys on the indoor Atlantic Pavilion court.

"I did what I wanted to do, dictated from the very first point," Sampras said.

The five-time champion served out the first set with a sizzling ace which left Safin lunging at thin air.

Another Sampras break in the fifth game of the second set saw a furious Safin smash his racket in two, drawing jeers and whistles from the crowd.

With Safin's composure gone, Sampras broke again and coolly served out for victory to keep alive his hopes of a record sixth season-ending title.

"Marat is number one in the world, he beat me comprehensively at the U.S. Open, so there was a lot of motivation for me to perform today," Sampras said.

"The crowd was great -- the best we've had here all week -- and I played great."

Sampras, still smarting from that New York defeat, said he had been too defensive in that match and was determined not to make that mistake again.

"I wanted to be really aggressive, to really get at him, unsettle him, give him no time to settle," the American said. "I wanted to chip and charge...take the net away from him and I managed to do that. I also managed to mix it up, not allow him to get into a rhythm -- that's when he's really dangerous."

Sampras admitted that revenge for the U.S. Open defeat was in his mind.

"I am a competitor, sure I wanted to get back at him for that. It was a big match for me today, either I win or I go home."