Fernando Gonzalez (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        MASON - As a 10-year-old kid in Chile, Fernando Gonzalez dreamed of playing his long-distance idol, Pete Sampras. In March, Gonzalez got his wish. He not only played Sampras but beat him handily at the Key Biscayne, Fla., tournament.

        Gonzalez might have wanted to ask Sampras for an autograph, but he didn't.

        “We're all professionals,“ said Gonzalez, who upset fourth-seeded Tim Henman 7-6, 6-2 Wednesday at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters.

        To this day, though, Gonzalez has a huge amount of respect for Sampras, who lost to Wayne Arthurs later Wednesday.

        “He's an unbelievable player,” the 22-year-old Gonzalez said. “He's the biggest player in history, maybe.”

        During his years of learning the game, Gonzalez didn't necessarily model himself after Sampras - Gonzalez doesn't play at the net nearly as much; he prefers to roam the baseline. But Gonzalez does think he can be just as successful. He just needs to work on his confidence. It can be as inconsistent as his serve.

        Gonzalez's confidence has shown this week. He beat Arnaud Clement in the first round (6-4, 6-2) before upsetting Henman to advance to the round of 16, where he will play Richard Krajicek.

        “If you're winning matches, you're getting confidence every day,” Gonzalez said.

        Ranked 39th in the world, he used his hard serve to take control of the match. Gonzalez made Henman the fourth top-five seed to be eliminated at the Masters. Henman was the tournament's fourth seed, and he is ranked No.4 in the world.

        “I think you certainly give him an element of credit, but from my point of view, I am not even going to begin to think of the last time I really played that badly,” Henman said. “It was horrendous.”

        Henman actually did better than three other top-five seeds. Second-seeded Marat Safin, third-seeded Tommy Haas and fifth-seeded Yevgeny Kafelnikov lost in the first round.

        Reaching the round of 16 is an accomplishment for Gonzalez. Since turning pro in 1999, he has won two tournaments. His first came in Orlando, Fla., in 2000, and his second in his home country at the Vina del Mar tournament in February.

        “It was like a dream come true,” said Gonzalez, who is 22-15 this season.

        Besides the win in Chile, he hasn't reached a quarterfinal this season. One more win would end that streak.

        “When I feel good,“ Gonzalez said, “I have confidence that I can beat anybody.”

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