Injured Sampras bows out
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.TENNIS
Pete Sampras' preparations for next month's French Open - the only grand slam to have eluded him - suffered another setback when the world No 2 player was forced to pull out of the Monte Carlo Open yesterday after badly twisting his ankle halfway through his second-round match against the Dutchman, Paul Haarhuis.
The American sustained the injury while trying to catch a forehand winner from Haarhuis. It was only Sampras' second match on clay this season following a first-round defeat against Germany's Oliver Gross in Barcelona earlier this month.
The American had taken the first set 6-4 and was in the third game of the second set when the incident occurred. He limped back to his seat, asked for the doctor and conceded the match.
"It all happened so quickly. I think he had just hit a forehand winner. At the end of a slide my right foot just got caught to the court, so I twisted my ankle,'' Sampras said. "I felt pain all over my foot up to the ankle."
Sampras, whose push to regain his world No 1 ranking from Andre Agassi must now go on hold, was not the only seed to bow out in his first match at the $1.8m (£1.2m) event.
Michael Stich also discovered how difficult it is to adapt to the clay- court game. The German, seeded sixth, lost in straight sets to the in- form Austrian, Gilbert Schaller, 7-6, 6-1.
Stich's compatriot, Boris Becker, was far more impressive. The second seed dismissed the Swede, Jonas Bjorkman, 6-3, 6-1. Becker was runner-up in this event in 1991.
Results, Sporting Digest, page 39
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments