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 men’s top seed has gone out in the second round at Roland Garros — after Ramon Delgado defeated Pete Sampras in 1998. The last top seed to win the clay court climax was Jim Courier, in 1992.

Sampras’ 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 Rica’s gritty Juan Antonio Marin 6-7 (5/7) 6-4 7-5 6-7 (9/11) 6-4.

That Marin’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.

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

Sampras said his experience and desire had helped him. “It was pure will,” he said. “It’s never great to play four-and-a-half hours in the first round, but I’m still alive. I’m still in the tournament – which is great.”

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