Kafelnikov ousted from French Open

Pete Sampras, Patrick Rafter, Richard Krajicek, Tim Henman and Gustavo Kuerten all have a chance to topple Kafelnikov at the top.

It is the second straight year that the men8217;s top seed has gone out in the second round at Roland Garros 8212; after Ramon Delgado defeated Pete Sampras in 1998. The last top seed to win the clay court climax was Jim Courier, in 1992.

Sampras8217; frailties on the slow red surface were again exposed, in the first round this time. He struggled for 4 hours 18 minutes in the gathering gloom Tuesday night before finally overcoming Costa Rica8217;s gritty Juan Antonio Marin 6-7 5/7 6-4 7-5 6-7 9/11 6-4.

That Marin8217;s Grand Slam record dipped to 0-8 said volumes about the improvements Sampras needs to make if he is to win the only Grand Slam to have eluded him in his career. In a match that lasted 407 points, Sampras won 207 and Marin 200.

8220;How did I survive? By the grace of God, I guess,8221; said Sampras. 8220;I just hung in there and scrapped a few shots here and there.8221;

Sampras said his experience and desire had helped him. 8220;It was pure will,8221; he said. 8220;It8217;s never great to play four-and-a-half hours in the first round, but I8217;m still alive. I8217;m still in the tournament 8211; which is great.8221;

The American is realistic enough at 28 to concede he is not one of the favourites to win here. 8220;I8217;m a bit of a dark horse, but I kind of like that position.8221;