Sampras into last eight

Sampras eases to victory over Siemerink

Pete Sampras polished off Dutchman Jan Siemerink 6-3 6-4 to ease into the last eight of the £580,000 Stella Artois ATP event.

But the seven-times Wimbledon champion's victory booked him a busy few hours with his quarter-final against fellow American Jan-Michael Gambill scheduled for later in the day.

In another match held over from Thursday, defending champion and third seed Lleyton Hewitt breezed past Zimbabwean Byron Black 6-3 6-2.

Australian Hewitt, who beat Sampras in last year's final, next tackles the in-form British 12th seed Greg Rusedski.

Second seed Sampras never looked in trouble during a match which had been carried over from a rainy Thursday evening.

Pressure

Resuming at 2-1 on Centre Court, Sampras won the next two games to put Siemerink under immediate pressure.

Perfectly-timed returns saw Sampras break again early in the second set and again he made no mistake, serving out for victory.

And as he goes seeking an eighth Wimbledon title, Sampras issued a warning to any pretenders to his crown.

"I'm not scared of anyone," he insisted.

I'm not scared of anyone

  Pete Sampras

"There are a lot of good young players but no-one who really scares me.

"Andre Agassi is the one guy who can beat me when I'm playing well, but with (Marat) Safin and (Gustavo) Kuerten, even though they've beaten me, I feel like the match is on my racquet.

"Week in week out it does get tougher but when I'm on, it's tough for guys to beat me.

"I just need to stay inspired and motivated and that's my challenge. I still have the tools."