Richard Krajicek following his win over Hrbaty

Krajicek, ranked 23rd, has only met Sampras once before in a Grand Slam match, when he beat Sampras to the Wimbledon crown in 1996.

Krajicek had won four in a row against Sampras before the 29-year-old American took their most recent meeting last year at Cincinnati.

He said: "It'll be a difficult test. Sampras serves on another level than most guys. It's always tougher to return when the ball comes so quick.

"I keep on attacking. Once you let him attack you and decide when he comes in and how the game is going to be played, you're in big trouble."

Sampras and Lee began playing in hot and humid conditions before a capacity crowd in 25,000-seat Arthur Ashe Stadium.

When they returned after the storm, the match was completed in cool and breezy weather in a near-deserted venue.

Having come close to breaking Sampras during the first set, Lee said after the match: "If I were to win that point, I would have had two more serves and a chance to win the set.

"I lost a lot of emotion and I was not myself at the beginning of the second set. "If I had won the first set, I don't think I would have won the match, but I would have had some momentum behind me and I would have played much better."

Krajicek trailed Hrbaty 6-3 in the tie-breaker but saved three set points in a row and three more later, finally ending it with a forehand winner on his third set-point opportunity.

From there, Krajicek's serve and volley game seized control, breaking Hrbaty twice in each of the last two sets to advance.