MUNICH. Germa-

ny. Dec II: -Mi-WUv chael Chang made

world number one vPete Sampras work hard for every cent of more than 900.000 dollars prize money in the all-American battle of the big earners at the Grand Slam Cup on Friday, reports Reuter.

Former French Open champion Chang put up a typically fighting performance before the Wimbledon champion clinched a 7-6. 6-3 victory. He will meet Czech Petr Korda in the semifi-

, nals today.

Korda booked his place in the last four with a 4-6, 6-0. 6-4 win over French Open champion Sergi Bruguera of Spain in Friday's second quarterfinal.

Michael Stlch and Stefan Edberg will clash in the other semifinal.

Sampras, who has earned,a 500,000 dollars appearance bonus for Just turning up in Munich because he has won two Grand Slam titles this year, is still on course to cash in on one of the biggest paydays for one event in the history of sport.

If he wins the six million dollars Munich tournament, the US Open champion can walk away from Germany with 2.125 million dollars in his pocket.

While most people would go weak at the knees at" the thought of such an enormous payday, the 22-year-old Sampras. who has spent more time on a golf course than a tennis qourt in the past fortnight, seemed remarkably relaxed at the prospect.

"It is Just a little extra Christmas money," he said. "But I definitely wanted to play well here and try to end the year on a positive note.

"Regardless of what happened here, obviously it has been a great year. I didn't really prepare that well and didn't practise too much in the last couple of weeks. And here I am in the semis."

In stark contrast to his opening match against Austrian

Thomas Muster which looked like money for nothing. Sampras had to work hard for his cash on Friday.

Chang had a superb chance to take the Initiative in the first set tiebreak when Sampras hit the ball out df the back of the court to give him a 7-6 lead.

But Sampras saved the set point and fired In a superb ace to set up his own set point at 8-6. The Wimbledon champion cifnched the set after 51 minutes in the next exchange when Chang netted.

Chang was not discouraged and he broke in the opening game of the second set. But Sampras' strength is his ability to stay cool under pressure.

He immediately broke back and effectively sealed the match when he broke again to lead 5-3.

In this form the American should be too strong for the unseeded Korda today.