AUSTRALIAN OPEN : Sampras Gets Five-Set Scare

Everything Pete Sampras hit came back at him even harder. Shots rifled past him at the net. He shook his head in amazement as the ball caught the lines on his side of the court.

Sampras outlasted Yevgeny Kafelnikov, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3, 1-6, 9-7, to win a second-round match Wednesday in the Australian Open, but he left the court with respect for the young Russian.

“I mean, I was trying everything--staying back, coming in--and he was coming up with good shots,” Sampras said. “He just wasn’t letting up. He kept on coming after me.”

Steffi Graf, the top-seeded woman, had a much easier time reaching the third round, defeating Nicole Provis, 6-1, 6-4, in 61 minutes.

Fourth-seeded Stefan Edberg reached the third round with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 victory early today against Jan Siemerink. Also advancing were No. 12 Alexander Volkov and No. 14 Karel Novacek, as well as Mats Wilander, a three-time champion trying to make a comeback.