TENNIS : ‘Average’ Sampras Better Than Korda

An average performance by Pete Sampras was too good for Petr Korda.

Sampras, the top-ranked defending champion, finished two sets with aces to defeat Korda, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, on Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the Lipton Championships at Key Biscayne, Fla.

It’s a measure of Sampras’ smooth and steady style that he won with little trouble, but failed to impress Korda, who lost a five-set final against Sampras last week at Indian Wells.

“He didn’t play very good or very bad,” Korda said. “He played average.”

Said Sampras of Korda’s appraisal: “What does that mean about the way he played?”

But Sampras acknowledged that his serve was off, and that he allowed Korda to dictate the match.

“When you play him, you want to keep the ball nice and deep, and hopefully he’ll go for some low-percentage shots,” Sampras said.

Sampras’ opponent in Friday’s semifinals will be longtime rival Jim Courier, who defeated Goran Ivanisevic, 6-3, 7-5.

Sampras leads Courier, 9-2, and won their most recent meeting in the semifinals at this year’s Australian Open.

“I’m going to have to play a little bit better than I did today to win,” Sampras said.

In quarterfinal matches today, Andre Agassi plays Stefan Edberg and Jim Grabb faces Patrick Rafter.

The women’s semifinals today will match top-ranked Steffi Graf against 17-year-old Lindsay Davenport, a senior at Murrieta Valley High, and Natalia Zvereva against Brenda Schultz.