game could do damage on clay by outplaying Pete Sampras 6-3 7-5 yesterday to steer Australia into the final of the World Team Cup.

Just a few days before the start of the French Open on the slow surface, Rafter, who has now won the last three matches he has played against Sampras, handed Australia a winning 2-0 lead and a place in today's final against Sweden.

Mark Philippoussis had earlier put the Australians ahead with a hard-fought 6-4 6-7 7-5 win over veteran Richey Reneberg.

Bermuda resident Rafter, and Sampras, respectively third and second in the ATP Tour rankings, had met 11 times before, with the American leading 8-3, but never on clay.

The hard-hitting Australian, who was denied the top spot when he lost to Brazil's Gustavo Kuerten in the Italian Open final last Sunday, made a dream start, opening up a 5-1 lead to serve for the set.

Sampras then saved a set point and broke him, only to drop serve again and lose the set in the ninth game by netting a return.

Rafter survived three set points in the second set before managing the telling break to go 6-5 up and serve for the match.

Sampras, who lost the world number one ranking to Russia's Yevegeny Kafelnikov earlier this month, bowed out by hitting a return wide on match point.

The elegant American, still chasing his first title this year, will now head for Paris where the French Open starts on Monday.

Rafter will join him there a bit later and the baseliners all know now that the double US Open champion could give them a hard time.

"There's no question that he can play well on clay,'' Sampras said of the Australian. "He's going to be tough to beat next week.'' Naturally, Rafter was delighted with his performance.

"I played well constantly, served well and came up with the right shots at the right time,'' he said. "Beating Pete on clay just before the French is nice. It's just what I needed.'' Few will include Sampras, who has played very few matches this year, on their list of favourites to win the French Open.

But the American does not mind.

"I'm a bit of a dark horse and I like that position,'' he said, looking forward to the only grand slam to have eluded him. "It's a challenge and challenges are what I need. I'm looking forward to those next two weeks.

Hopefully it'll be two weeks.'' Philippoussis was made to work by Reneberg, who is a modest 291st in the world and was called into singles duty after Andre Agassi pulled out with a shoulder injury earlier in the event.

After taking the first set 6-4, the Australian world number 10 wasted a match point in the second set before losing a tie break 3-7. He then served for the match leading 5-4 in the final set but was broken. Philippoussis eventually sealed victory with an ace after over two hours.

Sharp shooter: Patrick Rafter set himself up for the French Open with a clay court win over Pete Sampras in the World Team Cup.