BRIEFLY : SAMPRAS, CHANG REACH FINAL.

Top-seeded Pete Sampras overcame Jan Siemerink of the Netherlands 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2) Saturday to set up an all-American final against No. 2 Michael Chang at the $328,000 Salem Open in Hong Kong.

Chang, who is 7-9 in head-to-head meetings with Sampras, beat Australian Todd Woodbridge 6-3, 6-4 in his semifinal.

``There is not going to be much pressure on me, I will just try to play the best I can,'' said Chang, the two-time defending champion. ``I think there was more pressure in 1994 when I had yet to win in Hong Kong.''

No. 7 seed Mary Pierce and No. 8 seed Irina Spirlea posted straight-set upsets to earn the right to meet in today's final of the $450,000 Bausch and Lomb Championships in Amelia Island, Fla. Spirlea's 6-1, 7-5 victory over Arantxa Sanchez Vicario foiled the No. 3 player's shot at a third Bausch & Lomb victory. Pierce continued a comeback with a 6-2, 6-4 defeat of sixth-seeded Mary Joe Fernandez.

Thomas Muster of Austria, the world's top-ranked player, was extended to three sets and two hours before he beat Spain's Alex Corretja in the semifinals of the Estoril Open in Portugal. Andrea Guadenzi of Italy coasted to a 6-2, 6-1 victory over fifth-seed Paul Haarhuis of the Netherlands.

Top-seeded Thomas Enqvist of Sweden outlasted American Jonathan Stark 7-6 (8-6), 7-5 to reach the final of the Indian Open Tennis Championship in New Delhi. In the final, Enqvist will face No. 3 seed Byron Black of Zimbabwe,,who beat Alex Radulescu of Germany 6-4, 6-4.

TRACK AND FIELD

For its 100th running on Monday, the Boston Marathon will stretch to four times its normal size. The world's oldest annual marathon will gain a new title as the world's largest, with 38,500 registered runners and another 10,000 to 12,000 unregistered runners, or ``bandits,'' also expected to challenge the insidious 26-mile-385-yard course.

BOWLING

Walter Ray Williams Jr. won his third PBA title of the year, beating Steve Jaros in the finals of the Johnny Petraglia Open at Piscataway, N.J.

The Stockton native won four consecutive matches, including a 216-195 victory over Jaros.

``To win four matches on television, quite a bit has to happen,'' Williams said. ``You have to have the right combination of games at the right time.''

Along with winning the 19th PBA title of his career, Williams added $34,000 to his career earnings. The Hall of Famer has earned $1,024,610 since 1990 and more than $1.7 million in his career.

``I've been bowling really well since 1986 and plan to bowl as long as I can make a pretty good living,'' Williams said.

Jaros, from Bolingbrook, Ill., earned $18,000 for finishing second.

BOXING

South African Baby Jake Matlala retained his WBO light-flyweight title, stopping Scotland's Paul Weir in the 10th round at Liverpool, England.

Also in Liverpool, Mexico's 22-year-old Jose Luis Lopez floored Ireland's Eamonn Loughran three times in the first 51 seconds to claim the WBO welterweight title.

In Phoenix, IBF junior flyweight champion Michael Carbajal broke his right hand during a sparring session and could be out as long as three months.

BASKETBALL

California athletic officials have denied requests from star forward Tremaine Fowlkes and center Michael Stewart to be released from their basketball scholarships. Athletic director John Kasser said the players can appeal.

MOTOR SPORTS

Andy Santerre knocked Steve Park off the pole with the final run of the day, capturing the No. 1 starting spot for the NASCAR Busch North Series' Tri-State Megabucks Twins in Loudon, N.H.

ETC.

Jockey Julie Krone revealed that she will undergo a surgical procedure Monday at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., for the removal of what she described as precancerous tissue. . . .

Burger King Corp. is investigating allegations that several franchise owners sold commemorative Detroit Red Wings hockey pucks at inflated prices to sports memorabilia dealers. The pucks were part of a promotion that ran from March 3 until April 1. They cost $3.49 with the purchase of a meal. . . .

U.S. Soccer Federation president Alan Rothenberg became the first American member of the CONCACAF executive committee, getting elected to one of five seats on the regional soccer authority's board.

CAPTION(S):

Photo

PHOTO Mary Pierce, the Frenchwoman who lives in Bradenton,Fla., hits a backhand volley in her upset victory over Mary Joe Fernandez.

Associated Press