NEW YORK -- Pete Sampras' personal odyssey here at the U.S. Open hasn't been trying enough.

	Pete Sampras has 13 Grand Slam singles titles, but none since Wimbledon in 2000.

First, he was seeded No. 10, his lowest placement since 1990. Then in the Round of 16, of all places, Sampras encountered two-time U.S. Open champion Patrick Rafter. After slaying that beast, Sampras faced Andre Agassi, himself a two-time champion, in the quarterfinals. Somehow, Sampras survived that epic, four-tiebreaker match.

But, no, that isn't enough. Not hardly.

Next up, in Saturday's semifinal match, is one Marat Safin, the young Russian who humiliated Sampras in last year's U.S. Open final and started all of that retirement talk. This is, in tennis parlance, a mighty tough draw.

"Well," Sampras said, "I just hope he comes down to earth. I was pretty humbled out there the last time I played him on that court. Defending champion, I'm sure he'll feel a little bit more pressure this year than last year.

"He's a great player, possesses a big game. He's playing well, so should be a good one."

Certainly, Sampras hopes so. Anything would be an improvement over last year's surreal 4-6, 3-6, 3-6 loss. Safin, now 21, is among those suggesting this will be a better match.

"Last year was ridiculous," Safin said after blitzing Mariano Zabaleta in straight sets in the quarterfinals. "I mean, I couldn't believe myself that I can play like this. Every time, every point I win, I say, 'Wow, too good.'

"Trying to tank even, and it's not possible. One of those days you cannot even tank. You playing unbelievable shots. So it's going to be different story. For sure."

Whoever wins will probably consider his difficult season a success.

Sampras, as even causal tennis fans know, is in the midst of a late-career crisis. He hasn't won a tournament since last year's Wimbledon, a streak that now encompasses 17 events. Much has been made of his age (30), his hair (thinning), his wife (actress Bridgette Wilson), his backhand (slightly less than fantastic) and his motivation (actually, far less than fantastic).

After achieving everything there is to achieve in tennis -- he broke records for Grand Slam singles titles and consecutive years as the No. 1 player -- Sampras, understandably, has had trouble getting up for tournaments in, say, Memphis and Scottsdale, even Rome and Hamburg.

"It would save my year, no question," Sampras said. "If I didn't win here it would be a disappointing year. It would be nice to. I think I've won a major every year for many years. It's hard to keep up that pace for eight, nine years."

	A more composed Marat Safin has only broken one racket so far during the U.S. Open.

Safin, widely viewed as one of the game's most talented players, has had an even tougher year, considering he is the No. 3-ranked player in the world. He hasn't won a tournament, either, but his record coming into the U.S. Open was a middling 26-22. Even more amazing for a serve-and-volley virtuoso, Safin was 13-12 on hard courts. The best he could do during the summer circuit was a semifinals loss to Rafter in Indianapolis.

At the Open, he has rediscovered his game. He has kept his emotions generally under control -- he's averaging fewer than one broken racket in five matches so far -- and his serve has crackled. So, where was his game earlier in the year?

"It's really sad to start the year so late," Safin said. "I played so many tournaments, more than 30, last year. Tried to get points and tried to finish the year No. 1. I had no preparation before the Australian Open. It's no chance."

And then he injured his back, changed rackets and lost his confidence. Slowly, it has come back during the fortnight at the National Tennis Center.

"I would love to win a few more Grand Slams," Safin said. "I think I am really capable of this."

Agassi was asked after his loss to Sampras if the old warrior, even with two days off, could possibly find a way to win another huge match? Can he summon the energy, both emotional and physical?

"How do you count him out, really?" Agassi asked. "I think the two days off is going to help him and his body to be able to lay it on the line real hard on Saturday. A couple breaks here and there, and he'll be at his best for both matches.

"You have to give him as much of a chance as anybody else in the draw."

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