| | Associated Press
DUESSELDORF, Germany -- Pete Sampras lost to Tommy Haas 7-5,
6-2 Tuesday and Germany beat the United States 2-1 at the Team
World Cup.
Sampras lost his second straight match at this event and is 1-3
in his latest comeback -- not an encouraging sign less than a week
before the French Open.
"The best clay-court match I ever played was in Paris in 1996
in the quarterfinals against Jim Courier," Sampras said. "I hope
that somehow I can reach that shape in the next couple of weeks."
Sampras has never won at Roland Garros and his best showing
there was that 1996 semifinal appearance. A victory there this year
would break the record of 12 Grand Slam titles he shares with Roy
Emerson.
Sampras missed more than a month with a thigh injury and came
back last week at the German Open.
Haas had never beaten Sampras in four previous matches.
"I'm so happy I can say I've finally beat Pete," Haas said.
"For me, he is the greatest player of all time."
Rainer Schuettler beat Vincent Spadea 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 to secure
Germany's victory in the best-of-three series even before the
doubles.
Alex O'Brien and Jared Palmer won doubles for the single U.S.
point, defeating Haas and David Prinosil 7-6 (3), 6-7 (5), 6-3.
In another Red Group match, Sweden beat Slovakia 2-1 by taking
the doubles. Germany improved to 2-0, while Slovakia and Sweden are
1-1. The Americans are 0-2.
The $1.9 million tournament brings together eight teams whose
players have the best individual rankings. They are divided into
two four-team groups that play a round-robin system, with the top
two nations advancing to the final.
The event serves as a tuneup for the French Open, which starts
Monday.
Sweden had to play without Thomas Enqvist, who pulled out
because of a hand injury. The Swedes took the lead against Slovakia
when Magnus Norman rallied to beat Dominik Hrbaty 3-6, 7-6 (5),
6-3.
Karol Kucera tied it quickly for Slovakia by beating Mikael
Tillstroem 6-0, 6-2. Tillstroem than teamed with Nicklas Kulti to
defeat Kucera and Hrbaty 6-4, 7-6 (4) in the decisive doubles.
| |
ALSO SEE
World Team Cup: Australia gets break in winning opener
World Team Cup: Another Sampras loss gives Slovakia win over U.S.
Agassi, Hingis get top seeds for French Open
 |
