Sampras breezes into third round

PARIS, May 28: World number-one Pete Sampras produced one of his best-ever performances on a clay court at the French Open here today to de...

PARIS, May 28: World number-one Pete Sampras produced one of his best-ever performances on a clay court at the French Open here today to destroy Spanish opponent Francisco Clavet and move just four matches away from winning the only major title missing from his collection.

In an awesome display of controlled power and stylish strokeplay the American brushed aside the world8217;s 31st ranked player 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 on a sun-drenched Roland Garros Centre-Court.

He now faces either Leander Paes of India or Magnus Norman of Sweden for a place in the last-sixteen.

Defending champions Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Steffi Graf too swept into the third round with straight-set victories.

Graf, a five-time champion at Roland Garros, beat French wild card Amelie Mauresmo, the junior champion, 6-3 6-3.

Kafelnikov, who has said it would take a 8220;miracle8221; to retain his title, powered to a 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 win over France8217;s Guillaume Raoux.

Cedric Pioline, 27, delighted the thousands of Parisian schoolchildren who annually invade the stadium on their weekday holiday for what is traditionally known as Childrens Day8217;, by beating Argentine qualifier Gaston Eltis 2-6 6-3 6-3 7-6 7/3.

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Thomas Muster, the fifth-seeded 1995 champion, advanced by beating Jeff Tarango 7-5 1-6 6-2 6-1 in an ill-tempered match.

Muster twice refused to shake Tarango8217;s hand after the match, even after Tarango went to Muster8217;s side and extended his hand. Umpire Mike Morrissey stepped in between the two players to separate them.

Tarango contested a lot of calls at the start of the second set, argued with the umpire and mocked Muster, once serving under hand.

Eighth-seeded Alex Corretja of Spain, the most consistent performer on clay this year, recovered from a slow start to down German qualifier Jens Knippschild 4-6 6-1 6-1 7-6 10-8. Corretja and Sampras could meet in the quarterfinals.

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Unseeded Andrei Medvedev, a dark horse, defeated Juan Albert Viloca 6-4 6-3 6-4.

Marc Rosset, the No 15 who was a semifinalist last year, cruised past Jason Stoltenberg 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.

But No 9 Carlos Moya, runner-up at the Australian Open in January, tumbled out, losing 6-4 4-6 7-5 6-3 to fellow Spaniard Albert Portas, a qualifier.Among the women, fourth-seeded Jana Novotna, seeking the first Grand Slam title of her career, reeled off 11 straight games to beat Jana Kandarr 6-4 6-0 and reach the third round.

Fifth-seeded Lindsay Davenport breezed past Elena Makarova 6-1 6-3, while seventh-seeded Conchita Martinez routed Chanda Rubin 6-3 6-0.

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Four more seeded women advanced, No 9 Iva Majoli, who routed Alexandra Fusai 6-2 6-3, No 11 Amanda Coetzer, who beat Amy Frazier 7-6 7-5 6-4, No 13 Irina Spirlea, a 6-4 4-6 6-2 winner over Ines Gorrochategui, and No 15 Karina Habsudova, who defeated Elena Likhovtseva 6-2 6-2.

How the seeds fared at Frech Open

Seedings in prefix

MEN8217;S SINGLES first round: 4-Goran Ivanisevic Cro lost to Magnus Gustafsson Swe 4-6 6-4 7-6 7-3 6-3: Second round: 1-Pete Sampras US bt Francisco Clavet Spa 6-1 6-2 6-2; 3-Yevgeny Kafelnikov Rus bt Guillaume Raoux Fra 7-5 6-3 6-4; 5-Thomas Muster Austria bt Jeff Tarango US 7-5 1-6 6-2 6-1; 8-Alex Corretja Spa bt Jens Knippschild Ger 4-6 6-1 6-1 7-6 10-8; Albert Portas Spa bt 9-Carlos Moya Spa 6-4 4-6 7-5 6-3

WOMEN8217;S SINGLES first round: 6-Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario Spa bt Karolina Jagieniak Cro 6-0 6-2; Kimberly Po US bt 8-Anke Huber Ger 6-3 4-6 6-3

Second round: 2-Steffi Graf Ger bt Amelie Mauresmo Fra 6-3 6-3; 4-Jana Novotna Czech Rep bt Jana Kandarr Ger 6-4 6-0; 5-Lindsay Davenport US bt Elena Makarova Rus 6-1 6-1; 7-Conchita Martinez Spa bt Chanda Rubin US 6-3 6-0; 9-Iva Majoli Cro bt Alexandra Fusai Fra 6-2 6-3; 11-Amanda Coetzer SA bt Amy Frazier US 7-6 7-5 6-4; 13-Irina Spirlea Rom bt Ines Gorrochategui Arg 6-4 4-6 6-2; 15-Karina Habsudova Slo bt Elena Likhovtseva Rus 6-2 6-2

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MEN8217;S SINGLES first round: Frederic Fontang Fra bt Patrik Fredriksson Swe 6-3 6-7 6-8 6-0 4-6 6-2.

Second round: Filip Dewulf Bel bt Fernando Meligeni Bra 6-4 6-2 3-6 1-6 6-3; Andrei Medvedev Ukr bt Juan Albert Viloca Spa 6-4 6-3 6-4; Cedric Pioline Fra bt Gaston Etlis Arg 2-6 6-3 6-3 7-6 7-3; Lionel Roux Fra bt sebastien lareau Can 7-5 6-2 6-4; Jan Siemerink Neth bt Salvador Navarro Spa 6-1 6-7 1-7 6-1 6-2; Thierry champion France bt Ramon Delgado Par 6-2 6-3 6-3; Nicolas Escude Fra bt Jonathan Stark US 6-4 6-2 6-2; Gustavo kuerten Bra bt Jonas Bjorkman Swe 6-4 6-2 4-6 7-5; Mark Philippoussis Aus bt Olivier DeLaitre Fra 6-4 3-6 6-1 6-4

WOMEN8217;S SINGLES first round: Magalie Lamarre Fra bt Barbara Schett Austria 6-1 retired injured; Catalina Cristea Rom bt Wiltrud Probst Ger 6-3 6-4; Andrea Glass Ger bt Els Callens Bel 6-3 4-6 6-2; Patricia Hy-Boulais Can bt Nathalie Dechy Fra 6-7 6-8 6-4 11-9; Natasha Zvereva Belarus bt Meilen Tu US 6-3 3-6 6-4; Sandrine Testud Fra bt Park Sung-Hee SKor 6-0 6-4; Florencia Labat Arg bt Kristie Boogert Neth 7-5 6-0; Sarah Pitkowski Fra bt Francesca Lubiani Ita 7-6 7-2 6-2; Larisa Neiland Lat bt Anne-Gaelle Sidot Fra 6-2 7-5

Second round: Nicole Arendt US bt Laura Golarsa Ita 6-2 6-2; Caroline Dhenin Fra bt Silvija Talaja Cro 6-2 7-5; Patty Schnyder Swi bt Katarina Studenikova Slo 6-0 2-0 retired injured; Ruxandra Dragomir Rom bt Yayuk Basuki Ina 7-5 4-6 8-6; Magui serna Spa bt Naoko Kijimuta Jpn 3-6 6-4 6-2; Meike Babel Germany bt Helena Sukova Czech Rep 4-6 6-4 12-10; Ann Grossman US bt Larisa Neiland Lat 6-4 6-4