More misery for Sampras as Rios shines

Pete Sampras squandered a host of chances on his way to a 6-7 6-3 6-4 defeat by Spain's Alex Calatrava in the first round of the Hamburg Masters on Monday.

The holder of a record 13 Grand Slam titles allowed a one-set lead to slip and missed three break back points in the final game of the match on Centre Court.

The defeat was a further blow to the American's preparations for the French Open later this month, the only Grand Slam title he has never won.

Fourth-seeded Sampras, who lost in the first round of last week's Rome Masters to Israel's Harel Levy, put up a brave fight, saving seven match points, but he has still failed to win on clay this year.

"I definitely had my chances out there," a dejected Sampras said. "But I couldn't make any of them so I am pretty disappointed after that result.

"I played well, though, and have to give him credit."

Marcelo Rios earlier shrugged off his recent brush with the law to beat Spain's Carlos Moya in a battle of former world number ones on a sun-drenched Centre Court.

Rios, who attacked two policemen in Rome last week following his second-round defeat by Juan Carlos Ferrero, barely put a foot wrong on the way to a 6-4 6-4 victory that put him into the second round of the $2.96 million tournament.

LOOK FORWARD

"You've got to look forward," the Chilean said. "(Last week) was a bad situation... and things could have been avoided, but now I just want to look forward. I want to get on with playing good tennis now."

Officials are still conducting an inquiry into why Rios insulted a taxi driver and attacked the police officers on a night out, the ATP said on Monday.

Rios will meet either 14th seed Jan-Michael Gambill or local wild card Axel Pretzsch in the second round.

Spain's Alberto Martin made full use of his last-minute lucky-loser entry into the tournament by beating three-time champion Andrei Medvedev of the Ukraine in the first round.

Martin, who came into the draw on Monday morning after German Alexander Popp withdrew with a viral infection, crushed the 1999 French Open finalist 6-3 6-0.

Martin, who lost in the final round of qualifying on Sunday to Argentine Agustin Calleri, will play compatriot Calatrava in the second round.

American Todd Martin showed a welcome return to form when he beat 13th-seeded Swede Thomas Enqvist 6-2 7-6 on Court M1, while Levy easily defeated Anthony Dupuis 6-2 6-3.

Third seed Andre Agassi takes on Italy's David Sanguinetti later on Monday, while British ninth seed Tim Henman meets Germany's Lars Burgsmuller.