Sampras Downs Becker

Top-ranked Pete Sampras turned aside the challenge of crowd-favorite Boris Becker with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) victory at the ATP Championships in Frankfurt, Germany.

In raising his record to 2-0 in the round-robin event, Sampras virtually assured himself a spot in the semifinals.

Thomas Enqvist beat Jim Courier 6-3, 6-2. Wayne Ferreira was also a winner, defeating Yevgeny Kafelnikov 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1.

Gabriela Sabatini began the defense of her WTA Tour Championship title by defeating Lindsay Davenport 6-4, 6-3 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

In other singles action, Conchita Martinez, recovered from a first-set wipeout to beat Iva Majoli 1-6, 7-5, 6-0, and Natasha Zvereva upset Arantxa Sanchez Vicario 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.