Sampras hit by indifferent form

Top seed Lleyton Hewitt clawed his way into the second round of the Hamburg Masters on Monday while Andre Agassi chose to stay away and Pete Sampras8217;s bid for claycourt success was again hijacked in the opening round.

Third seed Juan Carlos Ferrero was also a first-day casualty, letting slip a one-set lead to fall to fellow Spaniard Albert Costa 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. Ferrero was joined at the Hamburg exit by fourth seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov. The Russian was crushed 6-1, 6-2 by claycourt giant Alex Corretja of Spain.

Fifth seed Tim Henman showed his mettle against Nicolas Escude, however, the Briton showing no sign of a recent stomach bug as he mastered the Frenchman 6-4, 6-2.