Sampras Overpowers Becker -- Serve-And-Volley Puts Him In Final

WIMBLEDON - If this is boring, Pete Sampras will take it.

The world's top-ranked player lived up to his reputation today with an impressive 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, 6-4 dismantling of Boris Becker in the Wimbledon semifinals at Centre Court.

He didn't show much emotion, just a smile after match point and both hands thrust into the air.

The man who yelled at the British fans a few days ago, who eliminated crowd-favorite Andre Agassi and has stepped past the No. 2 choice of fans suddenly stands poised to win the most precious championship in this country.

Sampras' victory sets up the possibly of a Yankee Doodle showdown on the Fourth of July. Jim Courier of Dade City, Fla., is matched against Sweden's Stefan Edberg in the other semifinal.

"I hope they (the fans) still consider me a pretty nice guy, which I think I am," said Sampras. "I thought I played about as well as I could and Boris was just a little off on his serve."

Sampras, 21, showed no ill effects from lingering shoulder troubles. He didn't need the trainer helping him during the match, as he did the last two times out. He never lost his serve and barely allowed Bercker to threaten.

Becker said it was "very hard to believe" that Sampras had a shoulder problem. Indeed, the American served at an average speed of 113 mph, with a maximum of 124 mph.

"I was not feeling any pain out there today," Sampras said. "I now know that I'm going to be fine for Sunday."

Sunday will be his first Wimbledon final. In 1990, at age 17, he became the youngest U.S. Open winner in history. Last year, he reached the final of the U.S. Open again, losing to Edberg.

Becker twice lost his serve but that was enough.

"I must say I am pleased overall with the way I played in the fortnight," said Becker. "I was a step slow today. I didn't move as well as I did in the other matches. And Pete played an excellent match."

The match was classic (some might say boring) serve-and-volley tennis. Both dominated their service games by pushing the other to the far reaches of the court and then racing to the net.

In the first set, there was only one break point, which Becker saved. Nine of the 12 games ended with an ace or a mistake on the return.

That set took 50 minutes. It appeared the players were digging in for a marathon. Everything turned, however, in the third game of the second set. Becker, who had dropped only three service games in five previous matches, inexplicably lost control. Three double faults gave the game and the edge to Sampras.

Even though he was the top seed, Sampras was not the favorite to win the tournament or to beat Becker, who won here in 1985, 1986 and 1989.

But Sampras put on the performance of a champion today.

Sampras' superiority had Becker muttering and screaming at himself in frustration.

At one point in the second set, Becker lost his temper over a line call and shouted at chair umpire Wayne McKewen, "You have to watch a little bit. You've called them all wrong."

While Becker had 14 aces, his serve also let him down at crucial moments as he hit 12 double faults.

"Double faults like that in the semifinals are too much," said Becker. "I just didn't have the best timing on my serve today.

"The problem was my legs. They weren't as strong as they were in other matches."

Sampras' complete control of the match showed in the final game. He trailed 15-40 before hitting forehand and backhand volleys and then forcing Becker to hit wide.

With that momentum, he broke Becker's serve with the help of the German's 11th double fault. Sampras was serving for the match when he faced two break points. Calmly, assuredly, he staved off both.

Then, with the advantage, he pushed Becker back with another strong serve, charged the net ad put away an easy volley.

"Overall, he served excellent," said Becker. "Sometimes I thought he didn't know the difference between a first serve and a second serve because he was hitting it so hard."