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Friday, 7 July, 2000, 16:25 GMT 17:25 UK
Sampras cruises into final
(1) P Sampras (US) beat V Voltchkov (Blr) 7-6 6-2 6-4
Pete Sampras booked a Sunday meeting with Pat Rafter in the Men's final after a straight sets victory over Vladimir Voltchkov and then played down concerns about his injury problems.
Questioned about whether the left shin injury would cause him problems when he meets Rafter, Sampras said simply: "This is the last match."
And the world number one paid tribute to Voltchkov's efforts.
Sampras said: "It was very difficult. Vladimir came out and was playing very well and he was making me work very hard."
But the opportunity to go on and win his seventh Wimbledon title clearly means a lot to Sampras as he said: "This is the biggest event in the world."
The Belarussian qualifier put up stout resistance but was never able to trouble the Sampras serve.
The opening set had been dominated by serve but a missed volley at the net by Voltchkov presented Sampras with an advantage and he took the tie-break 7-4.
Losing the opening set on a tie-break seemed to disrupt the concentration of Voltchkov and Sampras broke his serve in the opening game of the second.
A double fault in Voltchkov's next service game handed the champion a second break and despite being worried by his shin injury Sampras served out the second set 6-2.
The third set saw a return to service domination and Voltchkov looked once again like the assured figure that had started the game as he once again matched Sampras.
The champion had two break points in the seventh game of the set but Voltchkov responded brilliantly to hold serve with a powerful forehand.
Voltchkov's speed and agility around the court earnt him plenty of fans in the crowd but Sampras had too much firepower for him and eventually achieved a break in the ninth game of the set.
And he duly booked his final place by serving out the match after one hour and 39 minutes.
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