Sampras and Capriati Win After Sleeping on It

Pete Sampras tossed the ball as if to serve, stepped away and let it fall, then collected himself for a moment as he was about to resume a tough rain-delayed match Tuesday during the first round of the French Open. He walked back to the service line and promptly fumbled the ball at his feet.

When he finally grasped it, he knew what to do--serve hard and fast down the middle. Marc Rosset of Switzerland hardly had time to flinch as the ball flashed past him for an ace.

Sampras, ranked third in the world, was facing a service break. But he won the game and the deciding fifth set for a 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory at Roland Garros Stadium and advanced to the second round against Goran Ivanisevic.

Sampras was leading, 4-2, but trailing, 30-40, in the game when play was suspended the day before because of thundershowers. As a result, he had the night to consider his plight.

So did Jennifer Capriati, who also was down a break point when play was halted. But unlike Sampras, she lost the set Tuesday, then relaxed and settled into a 6-1, 6-7 (7-3), 6-2 victory over Beate Reinstadler of Austria.

Sampras, realizing he was playing a formidable opponent, debated what do before continuing. He and his coach, Tom Gullikson, decided to go with Sampras’ strength--a hard, flat serve to Rosset’s forehand.

“It was a situation I’ve never really been in before, trying to sleep last night and being down break point,” said Sampras, the 1990 U.S. Open winner.

Rosset, a 6-foot-5, serve-and-volley player, played Andre Agassi tough during the first round last year before losing.

Capriati, seeded fifth, failed to win Monday after dropping four match points. After a night’s rest, she advanced to the second round by overpowering Reinstadler. She said the delay allowed her to regain her composure.

“I think I just lost my patience at the end of the second set,” she said.