Monte Carlo, April 19: With Marcelo Rios out of the event with a slow-healing elbow injury, Pete Sampras has the perfect opportunity to snatch back the world No 1 ranking when the Monte Carlo Open begins tomorrow.The Mercedes Super 9 tournament marks the unofficial start of the European clay court season.Playing in the continent's most glamourous tournament will give the clay-shy Sampras an extra tune-up week for next month's French Open - the only Grand Slam title that the 26-year-old American has not won.Sampras asked for a wild card entry on the suspicion that he would have to battle with Rios to claim his No 1 slot back.His last appearance here, in 1997, lasted for a round. He lost in the second round to Swede Magnus Larsson after a first-round bye.Rios seized the top ranking place on the ATP Tour list from Sampras by winning the Lipton Championships last month.Only 45 points separate the two men. And with holder Rios unable to defend his 540 points from 1997, it won't take many winshere for Sampras to retain the numero uno status.He is top seed ahead of Australian Open champion Petr Korda, with the rest of the ranking top ten - minus Australian Patrick Rafter - lining up in order through the draw.Rafter will take a break after an early loss this week in Tokyo at the Japan Open, working on fitness and just relaxing at his home on the island of Bermuda.At a star-studded draw held at the principality's famed casino - Prince Albert and model Karen Mulder were in attendance - Sampras found himself facing what could be a familiar face in the second round.The resurgent Andre Agassi, 22nd in the world and climbing again, needs only to beat compatriot Todd Martin in the first round to earn a match against Sampras in the second.The pair have played 21 times with Sampras holding a 12-9 margin. Their only meeting since 1996 came in the finals last February in San Jose, California, where Agassi won the title.The high-profile Americans will not be the only draw cards at theMonte Carlo Country Club, nestled in the rocky ledges overlooking the Mediterranean.Three-time finalist Boris Becker, now all-but-retired and playing where he fancies, received a wild card entry. The 64th ranked German opens against tough Dutchman Jan Siemerink and could get big-serving Briton Greg Rusedski, seeded third, in the second round.
