French Open Draw Not Kind to Sampras

Pete Sampras’ path to the French Open title is packed with former champions.

The top-seeded Sampras could face four French Open winners in this year’s tournament, which begins Monday.

Sampras got a difficult draw Friday. If he beats Magnus Gustafsson of Sweden in the first round, his next opponent probably will be two-time champion Sergi Bruguera of Spain.

Two-time winner Jim Courier is also in Sampras’ quarter of the draw. And if Sampras makes it to the final, he might have to face defending champion and second-seeded Thomas Muster.

Sampras, Muster and three-time women’s winner Monica Seles have injuries or ailments that forced them to pull out of matches Thursday. But they all hope to play in Paris.

Sampras had back spasms, Muster sprained his right ankle, and Seles has a painful left shoulder.

Sampras recovered enough from muscle spasms that sidelined him on Thursday to return to the World Team Cup tournament in Duesseldorf, the German sports agency SID said. He is expected to play today for the United States against Russia in the final day of play for the Blue Group.

Seles, co-seeded No. 1 with Steffi Graf, drew French wild card Caroline Dhenin in her first match. Graf, who has won the tournament four times, plays Latvian Larissa Neiland in the first round.