TENNIS ROUNDUP : Sampras Defeats Nelson

Top-seeded Pete Sampras began his bid for a third consecutive U.S. Hardcourts title by defeating qualifier Todd Nelson, 6-3, 6-4, Wednesday at Indianapolis.

Sampras, the world’s top-ranked player who already has won Wimbledon and four other tournaments while compiling a 59-11 match record this year, had 10 aces in improving to 19-2 in the event.

Earlier, a timely change in rackets paid off for Jimmy Arias with a second-round victory over 13th-seeded Brad Gilbert.

Arias, who is considering retirement, rallied for a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory after trailing, 4-1, in the second set.

“I changed to a little tighter racket and I was able to return his serve a little bit,” said Arias, who hadn’t played Gilbert since 1989 and had lost in their four previous matches. “For the first set and a half, I don’t think I put a return of serve in the court.”

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After a five-minute rubdown to soothe an injured right shoulder, defending champion Arantxa Sanchez Vicario of Spain beat Laura Golarsa of Italy, 7-5, 6-2, to reach the third round of the Canadian Open at Toronto.

Sanchez Vicario said her problems began early in the match before a trainer was called to treat what she said was a stretched muscle, an injury that all but eliminated her service game.

“Most of the time it was bothering me when I had to serve and make overheads,” Sanchez Vicario said.

The injury was evident at the end of the match when she surprised with an underhand serve to win match point.

“That was the only way to put the ball into the court,” Sanchez Vicario said.

In the other featured match, Gabriela Sabatini defeated Lisa Raymond, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2.

Tracy Austin was eliminated with a 6-4, 6-1 loss to 12th-seeded Nathalie Tauziat.

Steffi Graf, the world’s top-ranked player, moved into the quarterfinals with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Japan’s Naoko Sawamatsu, and fourth-seeded Mary Joe Fernandez defeated Croatia’s Iva Majoli, 6-3, 6-4.

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Ivan Lendl won a first-round match for only the third time in his last eight tournaments by defeating Joern Renzenbrink, 6-7 (7-2), 6-3, 6-2, at the Volvo International at New Haven, Conn.

Defending tournament champion Stefan Edberg never got his game going, however, losing to hard-serving Daniel Vacek, 6-3, 6-4. Edberg, upset in a night match in the tournament two years ago by Richard Krajicek, said the stadium court was too dark.

“If you can’t see the ball, you have no chance,” Edberg said. “I never really found any timing out there. I had a few chances to break, but I never made him play the ball.”

Also advancing into the third round were Richard Krajicek, Andre Agassi, Marc Rosset and Petr Korda.