Four-time US Open champion Pete Sampras survived a serious scare to advance into the semi-finals of this year's competition.

Sampras beat big-serving Dutchman Richard Krajicek in four sets in the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows.

The American lost the first set and looked as though he was going to go two sets down when he trailed 2-6 in the tie-break.

But he saved four consecutive set points and then snatched the set from under Krajicek, which appeared to be a huge turning point in the match.

After that there was no stopping Sampras who played some magnificent tennis.

He now moves within one win of a sixth US Open final.

In Saturday's semi-final, the fourth seed will face ninth-seeded Australian teenager Lleyton Hewitt, who swept to a 6-2 6-4 6-3 victory over unseeded Frenchman Arnaud Clement who had stunned top seed and 1999 champion Andre Agassi in the second round.

After the match he said: "I was getting outplayed.

"Richard puts a lot of pressure on my service game. I thought I was gone.

"Richard always plays me tough. After I won the second set, Richard got a little down. The second set turned the match around. I was making him play. It was a big match."