Sampras Moves Closer To No. 1

Two-time champion and a finalist each of the past three years, Pete Sampras advanced to the fourth round of the Lipton Championships by beating Jakob Hlasek 7-5, 7-6 (7-3).

With top-ranked Thomas Muster losing his opening match Saturday to Nicolas Pereira, Sampras can regain the No. 1 spot by reaching the final and beating high-ranked players along the way.

No. 4 Michael Chang beat Jonas Bjorkman 6-3, 6-2, and No. 6 Goran Ivanisevic moved a step closer to his fifth title this year, downing Javier Sanchez 6-0, 6-3.

Among those advancing on the women’s side were Jennifer Capriati and Gabriela Sabatini, who will renew a dormant rivalry when they meet today for the first time in three years. Top seed Steffi Graf and Americans Chanda Rubin, Lindsay Davenport and Mary Joe Fernandez also won.