Saturday, 19 January, 2002, 14:43 GMT
Gritty Sampras prevails
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/australian_open/1770190.stm

Pete Sampras won through to the fourth round of the Australian
Open after a gruelling battle against Frenchman Nicolas Escude.
Eighth seed Sampras overcame his opponent 7-6 5-7 6-4 6-7 6-3 in
a match which ran into the early hours of the morning in Melbourne.

Sampras blew three match points in a fourth set tiebreak but
regrouped to win the see-saw battle after three hours and 50
minutes of high drama.

Sampras, holder of a record 13 grand slam titles, has not won a
major since Wimbledon 2000 but is looking increasingly impressive
in Melbourne.

"I let it get away there in the fourth set when I got tight. It
was a tough match, a tough match," Sampras said.

"It was good tennis out there. We both played well, both had our
chances. He is a very talented tennis player.

"I'm going to enjoy this for about five minutes and then look
forward to Monday."

Sampras won the opening set on a tie-break, Escude won the second
by a single break of serve and the American took the third set.

=Fighting spirit=

The French Davis Cup hero was a break down in the fourth before
breaking back and then eventually forcing a tie-break.

In that tie-break, Escude saved three match points - with Sampras
6-3 up - before closing out the set.

But that heroic effort on the tie-break appeared to rob Escude of
his firepower in the deciding set - which began at 0130 local time
- as Sampras went two breaks up to lead 4-0.

Escude recovered his fighting spirit to break back and make it 4-1,
then held his own serve for 4-2, before Sampras made it 5-2.

Serving to stay in the match, the Frenchman held his nerve for 5-3
and only then did the American close out the match.

Sampras goes through to a fourth-round meeting with Marat Safin - a
repeat of the 2000 US Open.