STICH WON'T QUIT, BUT BECKER DOES.

Byline: Stephen Wade Associated Press 

Pete Sampras and Michael Stich could be on course for a Wimbledon final.

Sampras, the world's No. 1 player, is the only seed left in the men's draw. Stich won Wimbledon in 1991 and is retiring after this season.

Sampras wants a fourth Wimbledon title. Stich is not ready to join the leisure class.

``I didn't come here to retire,'' the 28-year-old German said. ``I came here to win the championship. . . . I've prepared very well this year, better than probably the last four or five years. I wanted to prove to myself that I can do it again, and that's what I'm doing right now.''

Sampras and Stich were both commanding in their Thursday quarterfinals - neither losing a service game. Sampras thumped Boris Becker in four sets and the German star then announced this was his last Wimbledon.

Stich broke the heart of Britain, serving and volleying local hero Tim Henman out of the tournament in three sets in what the Briton called his ``worst experience on a tennis court.''

Today, Sampras faces Australian Todd Woodbridge, who beat 19-year-old German Nicolas Kiefer in four sets. Woodbridge has won the past four Wimbledon doubles titles with partner Mark Woodforde, but this is the first time he's gotten by the third round in singles.

``I'm serving the way I want to serve and I think I'll be tough to beat,'' Sampras said. ``There's Stich, who has won here before and he has the experience and he's retiring. So he's coming in with nothing to lose.''

Sampras and Woodbridge haven't played since 1992 and they're 1-1 on grass. Interestingly, Woodbridge beat Sampras at Wimbledon in 1989 when the American was a mere 17-year-old and Woodbridge was just 18. Sampras beat Woodbridge in the first round at Wimbledon in '92.

``I'm still floating through it at the moment,'' said Woodbridge, who is chasing a record fifth straight doubles title with Woodforde. ``I'm giving myself a pretty good chance. I have to return well. There's nothing to lose from here on.''

Stich plays France's Cedric Pioline, who advanced by beating Britain's Greg Rusedski in four sets. They've never played on grass. Pioline's only victory was on a hardcourt in 1993.

Pioline would seem to have a better chance than Woodbridge. This is his first Wimbledon semifinal, although he's reached the quarterfinals three times. He was also the runner-up in the 1993 U.S. Open to Sampras.

``He probably has one of the best returns in the world . . . but he's going to have to serve a little better to get to the final,'' Rusedski said of the Frenchman. ``Sometimes his forehand can be a little shaky, but his backhand side is very solid.''

Looking further ahead, Stich holds a 5-4 career edge on Sampras, although Sampras has won their only match on grass, in the 1992 Wimbledon quarterfinals.

``I would love to win the (Wimbledon) championship and retire,'' Stich said. ``I think that's something I've probably always dreamed of.''

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

Photo: (1--color) No, Boris Becker isn't going to chew Pete Sampras' ear off after his quarterfinal loss. Becker is only telling him that this was his last match at Wimbledon.

(2) Cedric Pioline takes a fall but keeps on playing, eventually beating Greg Rusedski to advance to the men's semifinals.

Associated Press