Sampras, Chang Advance

Pete Sampras waited almost too long to put his game together, beating Swedish qualifier Magnus Norman 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 and moving a step closer to protecting his No. 1 ranking at the Japan Open in Toyko.

Sampras, who moved back atop the world rankings by winning in Hong Kong last week, will slip behind Austrian Thomas Muster again if Muster wins in Barcelona this week and Sampras loses before the Japan Open finals. Thursday’s win moved Sampras into the quarterfinals.

No. 2 seed Michael Chang lost five straight games at the end of the first set, but struggled to a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory over fellow American Jeff Tarango.

Defending champion Muster of Austria, seeking his 38th career title, ousted Czech Bohdan Ulihrach 6-4, 7-5 in the $925,000 Barcelona Open and will face Francisco Roig of Spain in the quarterfinals.

In third-round play, American and No. 2 seed Jim Courier coasted past Roberto Carretero of Spain 6-4, 6-3 and will play No. 8 seed Todd Martin, also of the U.S., in the quarterfinals.

This year’s Wimbledon men’s singles champion will collect an extra $41,000 in prize money at the world’s premier grasscourt tournament.

The men’s titlist will receive $592,675, an increase of $41,525, while the women’s winner will take home $533,030, up by $37,750.