NEW YORK, Sept 6: Pete Sampras returned to the form that earned him a record 13 major titles, hammering Andy Roddick 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 on Thursday to reach his eighth US Open semifinal.

Sampras, with 20 wins under the New York lights, took instant command against the 20-year-old 11th seed destined to take over the American mantle still comfortably worn by Sampras and fellow veteran Andre Agassi.

Sampras, without a title since winning Wimbledon two years ago, has come alive at the event this year, quickly polishing his game at the 16.1-million-dollar event where he got his start with a title 12 years ago.

“The conditions were not easy, I’ll take this win,” said a satisfied Sampras, happy to finish in 90 minutes. “I wanted to set the tone early.

“I got that first break and he got worried. He was not really on top of his game, he had an off-night.”

Roddick, who turned 20 last week with five titles during his teenage years, had been treated over the last two days for a bruise on his foot bone which he said he began feeling during the third round.

But Sampras was all business on court as he won in a much shorter time than he might have expected after losing both of his previous matches against Roddick.

“I’m confident, I’m playing pretty well. I’m staying positive, my serve is going well. I’m putting pressure on guys, coming out and showing good energy.”

Sampras, now with 201 Grand Slam match wins, will Saturday face Dutchman Sjeng Schalken, who out lasted battling Chilean Fernando Gonzalez 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-2) in three hours, 42 minutes.

Schalken, a journeyman on the ATP, came into the contest having having beaten Brazil’s Gustavo Kuerten and Sargis Sargsian in four- set struggles earlier.

But the 25-year-old stayed tough in the face of a trademark attack from the 22-year-old Gonzalez, aiming to become the first from his South American nation to reach the last four in New York.

“I’m not that tired,” said the winner, who also played a Wimbledon semifinal in July, losing to Lleyton Hewitt. “One day of rest was enough after those two long matches.

“In the fifth set, I just refocussed, I had to win at least one of the tie-breakers. The wind was blowing on one side of the court. Over there, you are always under pressure.”

Schalken becomes the first Dutchman since Tom Okker in 1971 to get this far in New York. “It’s a dream to put my name next to those like Hewitt and Agassi. I’ll just go for it in the semis and see what happens.”

Schalken has won one tournament each year for seven of the last eight years. His title this season came at home, his first on grass at Rosmalen.

Sampras never let Roddick have a look in, breaking the young pretender four times, winning two-thirds of his second-set points and firing down 13 aces.

The veteran finished his demolition job with a winning chip volley at the net which ended Roddick’s night in frustration.

RESULTS

Men (quarterfinals):

17-Pete Sampras (U.S.) beat 11-Andy Roddick (U.S.) 6-3 6-2 6-4; 24-Sjeng Schalken (Netherlands) beat 28-Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-2)—dpa