TENNIS ROUNDUP : Sampras Moves Within Reach of Courier’s No. 1 Ranking

Pete Sampras closed in on Jim Courier’s No. 1 ranking Thursday at Tokyo, advancing to the quarterfinals of the Japan Open.

Sampras could take the top ranking by winning his quarterfinal today against David Wheaton, according to unofficial figures.

Sampras, seeded No. 2, had 17 aces in his 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3 victory over 15th-seeded Guillaume Raoux of France. Courier was upset by Jonathan Stark earlier in the day.

In other third-round matches, Australian qualifier Neil Borwick defeated fourth-seeded Alexander Volkov of Russia, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), and Wheaton trounced Amos Mansdorf of Israel, 6-1, 6-2.

In women’s quarterfinal matches, top-seeded Kimiko Date of Japan defeated Miriam Oremans of the Netherlands, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, and Mana Endo defeated fifth-seeded Patty Fendick of the United States, 6-4, 7-5.

Sixth-seeded Australian Nicole Provis upset third-seeded American Pam Shriver, 6-3, 6-3, and eighth-seeded Stephane Rottier of the Netherlands defeated Michelle Jaggard-Lai of Australia, 6-3, 6-3.

Andre Agassi and Ivan Lendl breezed through the third round of the Conde de Godo tournament at Barcelona after upsets claimed third-seeded Michael Stich and fifth-seeded Carlos Costa.

Agassi, the top-seeded player, ousted Javier Sanchez of Spain, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), and No. 2 Lendl was a winner over Belgium’s Filip de Wulf, 6-3, 6-1.

Stich, seeded No. 3, fell to Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Unseeded Magnus Gustafsson of Sweden defeated Costa, 0-6, 6-2, 7-5.