Gaudenzi's victory leaves Sampras in twilight zone

Former world No 1 saddened by first-round exit as injury brings early end to Lee's French Open

A cold, wet opening day here in Paris ended with Pete Sampras disappearing into the twilight, his hopes of ever winning the only Grand Slam singles title to have eluded him dwindling almost to nothing.

Twilight is a word Sampras has used to describe this stage his career. He has added optimistically that his twilight could last for up to five years. Yesterday, such a prospect seemed as likely as grass growing on these unforgiving clay courts.

The sad fact is that at the start of his 12th consecutive visit here, Sampras was beaten in four sets by Andrea Gaudenzi, of Italy, a player who has not advanced beyond the second round in his last 23 tournaments. Moreover, Sampras had won their three previous matches, two of them on clay, including the quarter-finals of the 1994 Italian Open, which the American went on to win in a style that suggested a coronation in Paris awaited him.

That promise did not materialise. Sampras's best chance came in 1996, when he reached the semi-finals, only to be beaten in straight sets by Russia's Yevgeny Kafelnikov. Since then Sampras has not advanced beyond the third round.

Although Sampras continued to reign elsewhere, he has not been the major force in the sport since winning his seventh Wimbledon title – his record 13th Grand Slam singles championship – in 2000. He has failed to lift a trophy anywhere since that remarkable triumph against Australia's Pat Rafter.

While giving Gaudenzi credit for yesterday's victory – "he hit some great passing shots" – Sampras lamented his missed chances, particularly when serving for the fourth set at 5-4. He had already displayed his frustration at 3-3, incurring a warning for hitting a ball in anger.

"I have as pretty empty feeling right now," Sampras, the 12th seed, said, having lost, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 7-6, "and it's going to be even harder over the next few days. Over the years, I have played with a little anxiety [here], feeling all the pressure I put on myself, and I think that affects me to a certain point."

Summoning a note of optimism, Sampras added: "I will come back and try again." But the statement of intent trailed off into a more realistic evaluation: "As you get a little older, as Slams go by, it's pretty difficult to get over it. It's not like I'm 20 and have the next 10 years to have an opportunity."

Richard Gasquet, a player whose career stretches before him, suffered the consequences of the rain delays. The 15-year-old French wild card's rhythm was broken by a downpour after he won the opening set against Albert Costa, of Spain, and he fought to the end before losing, 3-6, 6-0, 6-4, 6-3.

Martin Lee's first adventure on the clay here ended in retirement because of a groin injury. The British No 3 was trailing Andrei Pavel, of Romania, the 22nd seed, 6-1, 5-4, when he decided he could not continue. Lee, who aggravated the muscle while playing in the World Team Cup in Düsseldorf last week, hopes to be fit for the Queen's tournament and Wimbledon.

Tim Henman, the British No 1, seeded sixth, is due to play his opening match today against Galo Blanco, of Spain.

Although rain delays spoiled the continuity of yesterday's programme, some players emerged dry and happy. Venus Williams, dispatched in the first round of the women's singles last year by Barbara Schett of Austria, defeated Bianka Lamade, a 19-year-old from Germany, 6-3, 6-3.

It was not an impressive display, Williams contributing 35 unforced errors to a total of 78, but it was a start for the second seed, who recently injured her right wrist lifting a bag.

Amelie Mauresmo, who last year fell in the opening round, returned to Court Philippe Chatrier yesterday and defeated Camille Pin, a French wild card, 6-4, 6-1. "I thought about what happened last year, but I think I'm quite relaxed now I'm through the first round. There might be a few flashbacks, but basically it will be exorcising what happened."

Last year Arnaud Clement was fancied to do well as the French No 1 after starting the season as a finalist at the Australian Open, but was defeated in the first round by Mariano Puerta, of Argentina, 9-7 in the fifth set. Yesterday Clement defeated Julien Benneteau, a French wild card, 6-0, 6-1, 6-4. "I did hit the headlines last year," Clement said. "Perhaps I'm less tense."

Todd Martin won his first match at Roland Garros for seven years. The 31-year-old American overcame Martin Arguello Vassello, an Argentinian qualifier, 6-2, 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 7-5. In 1996 Martin beat Mats Wilander, the Swedish former world No 1, in the second round, but has floundered here ever since.

* Richard Krajicek's decision that he is not ready to play at Surbiton next week may have saved the Lawn Tennis Association embarrassment. The 1996 Wimbledon champion, who has not played singles for 18 months because of an elbow injury, missed the deadline for Surbiton and then asked for a wild card. An LTA spokesman said: "Krajicek would be a tremendous asset to the Surbiton trophy. However, the policy regarding wild cards for a $50,000 tournament in this country is to give first consideration to deserving British players."