After losing the first set, Martin was a break of service behind in the second, but came back to force a tiebreak. In the third, Rafter was 0-3 behind and was at his athletic best to force another tiebreak.

Pete Sampras played through the pain barrier to beat little-known French player Jerome Golmard 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-4, and line up a contest against Mark Philippoussis.

Sampras needed intensive medical treatment on his troublesome back three times during the match.

, always looked below par against Golmard, a 25-year-old who came into the tournament ranked a career-best 49.

Andre Agassi defeated Marc Rosset -- the player whom hebeat in the 1994 Paris Open final -- in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.Agassi faces Martin in Friday's quarterfinals.

In a tight match between two players striving to qualify for the ATP world championship, Yevgeny Kafelnikov saved a match point before beating Tim Henman 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-2).

The match was made more important by Richard Krajicek's knee injury, sustained Wednesday.

Krajicek was competing with Kafelnikov and Henman to finish in the top eight -- and thereby qualify for the World Championship in Hanover -- but has now ruled himself out of the event.

In a third round match, No. 2 seed Marcelo Rios won against Vincent Spadea 7-5, 6-4. Mark Philippoussis of Australia continued his fine run, beating No. 7 seed Karol Kucera 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.

Zvereva ousted

LEIPZIG (GERMANY): Third-seeded Dominique van Roost beat No. 7 Natasha Zvereva 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 to reach the semifinals of the $ 450,000 Leipzig Open.

Two other seeds advanced but No. 5 Amanda Coetzer was upset by Sarah Pitkowski, whowon 6-3, 7-6 (8-6). Fourth-seeded Irina Spirlea struggled to oust Magui Serna 7-6 (10-8), 6-3 and eighth-seeded Anke Huber overcame stomach problems to defeat Barbara Schett 6-3, 6-3.