A brief history of time. Since January 1999 Pete Sampras has had an anterior tibia tendon strain, lower back spasms, a right hip flexor strain, a herniated disc, more back spasms, a 30 per cent tear to his right hip flexor, a lower back strain, a left quad muscle pull and now tendinitis of the left shin and foot.

As a result he withdrew or missed seven tour events. And now they think he's faking it?

As cheap shots go, Sampras feigning injury to win his 13th Grand Slam event would be a champion stroke.

That he has sliced through the top of the draw unfettered has added to his air of invincibility and in no little way to the continuing suspicions. In his defence, Sampras has still to meet a seeded player.

Today, against unseeded American Jan-Micheal Gambill, Sampras should advance into the semi-finals where he will again meet the unseeded Byron Black or qualifier Vladimir Voltchov.

Forget the injury intrigue, Sampras's run may well be the easiest in the history of the championships.

Below him in the bottom four, the, so far, unheralded Patrick Rafter faces six foot seven inch Alexander Popp while Mark Philippoussis will scorch the service box where Andre Agassi is expected to somehow return the ball. Agassi corners the market when it comes to quality returns of serve. While the rest clamber for bigger and better serves, the 1992 champion remains faithful to his ability to hit the ball back.

And while Tim Henman came close to unsettling Philippoussis, Henman's mental strength is far from that of Agassi, who specialises in big performances.

But Philippousis, as well as that right arm, has Boris Becker in his corner. Becker called in on the Australian before the Henman match.

"He came to the house in the morning. Just had a quick talk. He talked to my father. Just said well done about the other match. That's it," said Philippoussis.

The scary thing Becker also told Philippoussis was that he is playing at 40 per cent of his potential. Forget the Sampras tendon, that is unbelievable.

"I'm just going to go out there like I did today (against Henman) and play my game. Just give it all again. Like I said, I'm 23. I feel pretty young. I'm sure I've got a few more in me," said Philippoussis.

Compatriot Rafter has been inconspicuously moving through the draw and must now see off the current fizz of Popp.

The German has never won a title compared to Rafter's 15 and is one of 25 male players who made their Wimbledon debut this year. Not yet inside the top 100, Popp faces an rejuvenated Rafter. Out for some time with a nagging shoulder injury, the Australian has now fully recovered.

"He doesn't look as though he is going to serve volley. But if I can serve as well as I can, I'm sure there will be opportunities," he said.

No dispute there.