Muster Is Having a Hard Time

Thomas Muster gave critics of his No. 1 ranking more ammunition Saturday.

Stumbling again on a hard-court surface, Muster lost his opening match of the Lipton Championships to unheralded Nicolas Pereira of Venezuela, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.

“It’s a little bit surprising,” said Pete Sampras, ranked No. 2. “I’d be more surprised if he lost on clay. . . .

“Maybe he’s the best player in the world on clay. But I don’t think players consider him the best player in the world on indoor, hard court or grass.”

A sullen Muster was defiant in defeat.

“I don’t have to show anybody that I can do anything anywhere,” he said. “I can do well anywhere.”

Detractors say the ATP computer overrates Muster by placing too much emphasis on his clay-court results. Since the beginning of last year, Muster is 70-2 on clay and 29-22 on other surfaces. He has lost his last five tournament matches away from clay.

Despite the latest loss, Muster will remain No. 1 unless Sampras reaches the final. Sampras easily won his opening match, beating Dutchman Sjeng Schalken, 6-3, 6-2.

Third-ranked Andre Agassi survived a two-hour struggle to beat Bernd Karbacher of Germany, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4). Agassi blasted clean winners on the final three points.

In women’s play, second-seeded Arantxa Sanchez Vicario was upset in her opening match by Karina Habsudova of Slovakia, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4). Habsudova, ranked 98th, squandered three match points before closing out the 2-hour, 17-minute baseline battle.

Unseeded Jennifer Capriati advanced to the fourth round by beating Elena Likhovtseva, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4. Sixth-seeded Chanda Rubin defeated Alexandra Fusai, 6-2, 6-0.

Eighth-seeded Thomas Enqvist and ninth-seeded Wayne Ferreira were eliminated. Enqvist lost to Vince Spadea of Boca Raton, Fla., 6-3, 7-5, and Ferreira lost to Hendrik Dreekman of Germany, 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-4.

Michael Chang ousted Jason Stoltenberg, 6-3, 6-4. Jim Courier blitzed qualifier Steve Bryan, 6-1, 6-0.