| | Results
PARIS -- Pete Sampras saved three match points in an uneasy
comeback victory over Spain's Francisco Clavet in the Paris Open on
Tuesday, only to be felled by a new malady.
"Pete can barely walk," ATP spokesman Nicola Arzani said after
Sampras' 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) victory over Clavet. "His back is
very stiff because of muscle spasms. The doctor thinks it is not
related to the injury problems Pete had in the summer."
|  | | Pete Sampras hadn't played since injuring his right hip flexor in a match on Aug. 20. |
Arzani said that the tournament doctor, Bernard Montalvan, would
make a statement on Sampras' injury on Wednesday, adding that the
player was in too much pain to speak with reporters.
Sampras, who hadn't played since injuring his right hip flexor
in a match in Indianapolis on Aug. 20, needed 2 hours, 2 minutes to
close out Clavet.
The former world No. 1 failed to take advantage of three break
points at 3-3 in the final set, and appeared to be an early
casualty when, with Sampras serving at 5-6, Clavet had three match
points.
But twice the Spaniard hit weakly into the net, and Sampras
erased the third match point with a powerful backhand volley.
Unless this latest injury interferes, Sampras will face either
No. 13 seed Tommy Haas or Stefan Koubek, before a likely
quarterfinal showdown against defending champion Greg Rusedski.
Russian teen-ager Marat Safin continued his jinx over
fifth-seeded Gustavo Kuerten with a 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 7-6 (7-4)
victory over the Brazilian. The 19-year-old Safin has beaten
Kuerten three straight, including the 1998 French Open when Kuerten
was the defending champion.
Coming from a set down, Sweden's Thomas Enqvist defeated
Sebastien Grosjean 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) in a first-round match.
Enqvist will next play fourth-seeded American Todd Martin in one of
the highlights of the second round of the $2.55 million event.
Cedric Pioline snapped a four-match losing streak by stopping
Andrei Medvedev 6-1, 6-4. It was Pioline's first ATP Tour victory
since he reached the U.S. Open semifinals in September.
Nicolas Lapentti, the No. 11 seed, also reached the third round
with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) victory over France's Fabrice Santoro.
In other first-round matches, Dutchman Sjeng Schalken stopped
Arnaud Clement of France 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 7-6 (7-2) and Spain's Juan
Carlos Ferrero, who entered into the draw Tuesday morning as a
replacement for injured Magnus Larsson, defeated South Africa's
Wayne Ferreira 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. | |
ALSO SEE
Sampas, Rusedski withdraw from Paris Open
 |
