COMMACK, New York, 23 August 2003 — Top-seed and defending champion Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand eased into the quarterfinals of the $355,000 ATP tournament here on Thursday, making short work of Armenian Sargis Sargsian 6-3, 6-4.

“I’m feeling better and better. I feel like as the tournament progresses, I’m growing in confidence,” said Srichaphan, who next faces American qualifier Jeff Morrison, a straight set victor over Russian Mikhail Youznhy 7-6 (9-7), 6-3.

“Jeff is playing great. Both times I played against him I lost. He’s going to be tough,” Srichaphan said. Paradorn played a much more authoritative game than his 53-ranked opponent, controlling the court with his huge forehand, thumping nine aces and passing marvelously at times with his soft one-handed cross-court backand.

The 24-year-old Thai raced to a 3-1 lead but the feisty 30-year-old Armenian restored parity at three-all. A fired-up Srichaphan upped the tempo and broke Sargsian’s serve in the eighth game before serving out the set on an ace.

It was all Srichaphan from there on. The 11-ranked Thai broke Sargsian’s serve two more times to go up 5-2. But he squandered two match points on his serve before finally securing the win two games later on his third match point.

Joining Srichaphan in the quarterfinals is Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela, last year’s runner-up here, who ousted Belgium’s Olivier Rochus 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 also on Thursday. Chela will now square off against Germanys Nicolas Kiefer, who barely broke a sweat in his 6-3, 6-1 whitewash of Brazil’s Flavio Saretta.

The other two quarterfinals will pit American James Blake against Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen and Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten, the No. 2 seed, against Morocco’s Youness El Aynaoui, the No. 7 seed.

Injured Safin, Canas Withdraw From US Open

Former champion Marat Safin pulled out of the $17.07-million US Open which begins Monday. Safin, who beat Pete Sampras in straight sets to earn the 2000 title, was joined as a late pullout by Argentine Guillermo Canas, like the Russian, victim of wrist problems. Safin was seeded 26th, but his departure will shift remaining seeds up a notch and add a No. 33 to the mix.

Roddick, Blake to Lead US Effort in Slovakia

On-form Andy Roddick and compatriot James Blake will lead the US team for next month’s Davis Cup World Group relegation round match in Slovakia.

Roddick will be backed up by Blake, a player who has yet to achieve long-term success. Joining the traveling squad will be Roddick’s teenaged chum Mardy Fish, losing finalist to his mate last weekend in Cincinnati, and Brian Vahaly. The Bryan brothers, Mike and Bob, will play doubles on their Davis debut.

Becker Salutes Retiring Sampras

German tennis legend Boris Becker paid tribute to seven-time Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras in Berlin yesterday as the American ace prepared to hang up his racket. “I have great respect for his decision,” Becker said. “But what can be nicer than ending your career with a Grand Slam victory?” said the three-time Wimbledon winner.

Capriati Ends Pistolesi Run as Top Seeds Advance

In New Haven, Connecticut, Jennifer Capriati ended the 12-match winning streak of Israeli Anna Pistolesi to reach the semifinals of the Pilot Pen event with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-1 victory on Thursday. The third seeded American will next face Amelie Mauresmo of France after the No. 2 seed beat Japan’s Ai Sugiyama 6-4, 6-4.

The other semifinal will be between top seed Lindsay Davenport, who eased past Magui Serna of Spain 6-0, 7-5, and Russia’s Elena Dementieva, who trounced Cara Black of Zimbabwe 6-1, 6-1.

Capriati took almost two hours for her victory and was stretched by an opponent who has recently won titles in Poland and Finland. After dominating the opening exchanges, breaking serve twice to love and dropping just four points in the first four games, Capriati increasingly found herself pulled into long and draining baseline rallies.

Having taken two hours 11-minutes to beat Elena Bovina on Wednesday night, the last thing Capriati wanted was a long match in the midday heat — especially so close to next week’s US Open.