Agassi, Norman out, Sampras survives

Czech Slava Dosedel upended Norman 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-3. The Swede relinquished the No 1 on the ATP Tour’s points race this week to Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten, the reigning French Open champion.

The suspended play benefited fourth-seeded Kuerten, who eventually prevailed over qualifier Gianluca Pozzi of Italy 7-5 6-3.

Sampras moves on to play 15th-seeded Tim Henman of Britain in the third round.

Hingis, Serena advance
MANHATTAN BEACH: Despite off days, top seed Martina Hingis overcame upset-minded Chanda Rubin 5-7 7-5 6-1 and defending champion Serena Williams ran past Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand 6-2 6-2 to book quarter-final berths at the $535,000 Los Angeles Open.

“It was close but I kind of came out of it,” said World No 1 Hingis on Wednesday, who despite four titles and three runner-up finishes this year was in danger of making her earliest exit of the campaign. “Sometimes you need to win matches like this.”

Williams, meanwhile, powered to another straight-set win. However, the reigning US Open champion was not entirely pleased with her play.

”Out of 10, I was a three,” said Williams, who had seven aces and five doublefaults in the 63 minute win. “I was really disappointed with the way I played. I just didn’t have a good day out there at all today. I just wasn’t playing my game at all.”

The fifth-seeded, seventh-ranked Williams added: “I’m trying to play my best game against the low-ranked players. That’s when you know you’re a real champion, when you can bring your best game at any day at any time.”

Williams set up a quarter-final match-up with crafty fourth-seeded Conchita Martinez of Spain, who rallied past American teenager Alexandra Stevenson 6-4 7-6 (7-2).

Earlier, eighth-seeded Sandrine Testud of France benefitted from a pair of overruled calls on the final two points to slip past Dominique van Roost of Belgium 6-2 3-6 7-5.

Mauresmo out of US Open
PARIS: France’s Amelie Mauresmo has had to pull out of the US Open later this month due to a long standing back problem, her spokesman announced here on Thursday.

Last year’s Australian Open finalist was advised by her doctors and back specialists to delay a return which means missing the final Grand Slam of the season at Flushing Meadow in New York between August 28 and September 10.