Sampras Loses Lipton Semifinal

The hardcourt surface favored Pete Sampras, but Sergi Bruguera was determined to win, even if it required swinging at a shot three times - which it did.

Bruguera whiffed, then scrambled to save a point in the pivotal tiebreaker as he upset Sampras 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 in Friday’s semifinals of the Lipton Championships.

Bruguera’s opponent Sunday will be second-ranked Austrian Thomas Muster, who made it an all-European final by beating Jim Courier 6-3, 6-4.

Trailing 2-1 in the tiebreaker, Sampras hit a shot that popped up off the net cord. Bruguera started to hit a forehand volley, but when the deflection forced him to pivot 180 degrees, he tried to hit a backhand instead and missed. As the ball bounced, Bruguera retreated, lunged and swung again, this time lofting a backhand over the net.

Monica Seles plays Martina Hingis for the women’s title today.