Safin shows Sampras the door

Marat Safin beat Pete Sampras 6-2, 6-4, 6-7, 7-6 in an epic Australian Open fourth round clash on Monday to clear his path towards a second Grand Slam title.

The ninth-seeded Russian, who blitzed Sampras in the final of the 2000 U.S. Open, secured victory with a superb running forehand after three hours 33 minutes of power tennis.

"It was a great comeback from Pete ... I was always under pressure," said Safin, who complained bitterly at several line calls.

"All the time you are under pressure because there is Pete Sampras opposite you so you have to come up with great shots."

Safin, who had not lost a set before the Monday night marathon, now faces South Africa's Wayne Ferreira for a spot in the semis. He is the only player in the last eight to have won a Grand Slam title.

Sampras, eighth seed and the holder of a record 13 Grand Slam titles, has not won a major since 2000 Wimbledon.

Safin started sensationally on the Rod Laver Arena court, launching winners past the American to streak into a 4-0 lead in the first set. He wrapped it up in 40 minutes and continued where he left off in the second set, breaking Sampras in the fifth game.

TOO STRONG

Safin was too fast and too strong for Sampras, who could only watch as the Russian hammered groundstrokes past him. He broke again in the third game of the third set to set up the chance of a quick victory but Sampras finally broke the Safin's serve to level at 4-4.

In the tiebreak Sampras pounced on a serve to grab a 4-2 lead then punched a backhand return past Safin for 5-2. The Russian broke back when Sampras miscued a forehand but the American made no mistake on the next point to set up three set points. Safin saved one when umpire Jorge Diaz ruled that his serve, called out, was in fact an ace and saved a second with a vicious backhand straight at Sampras.

Sampras sent in a heavy serve on his third before thumping in a forehand volley to claw back a set. Sampras let out a roar of triumph but Safin's head did not drop.

The Russian continued to thump winners from all over the court but now Sampras was matching him, making subtle forays into the net and using every angle available to eke out points.

In the second tiebreak of the match, Sampras broke straight away, luring Safin into the net and then drilling a forehand down the line. Two solid serves saw him take a 3-0 lead. Safin exploded on the next point and managed to get an over-rule as umpire Diaz threatened to lose control of the match.

The players changed ends with Sampras leading 4-2 but he dumped a simple forehand volley into the net to hand Safin back the mini-break.

Bouyed, Safin smacked two forehands for winners to move 5-4 ahead and two points from victory. Sampras levelled with a heavy delivery and eased 6-5 ahead with the most delicate of drop volleys.

As the tension levels soared, Safin ripped a backhand down the line to save set point and the players switched sides once more.

LEAPING BACKHAND

The Russian earned his first match point with a leaping backhand deep into the corner but blew the chance by rolling a nervous forehand pass into the top of the net.

Sampras reached his second set point by burying a smash in the stands but Safin fended it off with another geometry-defying backhand. His 22nd ace fired at 208 kph brought up his second match point and an amazing forehand running pass, bent around the high part of the net, finally sank Sampras.