体坛英语新闻：Sampras and Rusedski square off in Chengdu Open final

CHENGDU, China, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Pete Sampras of the United States and Greg Rusedski of Britain plowed through their respective round robin groups without dropping a set, securing their places in the Chengdu Open final.

Sampras boasted a double victory, finally beating his jet lag and then easily eliminating Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand 6-2, 6-3.

Sampras was at his freshest since arriving in Chengdu on the 20th. "Today I actually felt more coherent, like I was actually here," he said.

"I just felt better movement-wise. I was finding my range a little bit better, I really hit the ball well from all sides of the court. I served pretty well. I just felt physically better. I just finally got the jet lag under control...in time to go back tomorrow," he laughed.

Hitting his shots with conviction, Sampras also projected confidence after the match. "I'm ready and prepared," he said. "I feel like I played pretty well today. Certainly Greg has got a big game, big lefty serve on this court. He'll be tough to beat. Regardless, I'm looking forward to it."

Rusedski dismissed Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia 6-3, 6-4 in an entertaining match. Kafelnikov, a talented returner, read Rusedski's serve well in the first set, sparking rallies where other players may have simply been left applauding well-placed aces.

Though Kafelnikov hit winners aplenty, Rusedski denied him the opportunity to string them together by erasing potential threats with 18 aces. Able to protect his serve, Rusedski only need one break in each set to send Kafelnikov home.

Kafelnikov, the third-place finisher at the 2009 Chengdu Open, was hardly dejected.