Tuesday, August 10, 1999

Sampras faces first test today

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Plays Siemerink; Chang, Courier in tough openers

BY MICHAEL PERRY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

        MASON — No.1-ranked Pete Sampras puts his 17-match winning streak on the line today when he takes Center Court in the Great American Insurance ATP Championship.

        Sampras, runner-up here last year and champion in 1997 and '92, faces Jan Siemerink of the Netherlands at 7 p.m. Siemerink advanced over Jan Kroslak 6-1, 6-2 Monday.

        Two of the more intriguing first-round matches are today.

        Two-time ATP champion Michael Chang, ranked No.58, plays 19-year-old Russian star Marat Safin, No.34 (1 p.m. Center Court). And former world No.1 Jim Courier, ranked 39th, faces No.30 Goran Ivanisevic (follows Chang-Safin on Center Court).

        Defending champion Patrick Rafter, two-time champion Andre Agassi and fourth-seeded Yevgeny Kafelnikov will play Wednesday.

        Other top matches today:

        • Fifth-seeded Tim Henman plays the second night match on Center Court against John Van Lottum.

        • Sixth-seeded Gustavo Kuerten faces Alberto Martin at 7 p.m. on the Grandstand Court.

        • Seventh-seeded Richard Krajicek meets Ivan Ljubicic in the fourth match of the day on the Grandstand Court.

        • Ninth-seeded Todd Martin plays qualifier Ramon Delgado at 11 a.m. on Center Court.

       

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