Wimbledon: No slip-up for Sampras
Pete Sampras recorded a straight-sets victory over Francisco Clavet to open his defence of the men's title at Wimbledon.
The American took just over two hours to defeat the Spaniard 6-4 7-6 6-4, opting for a policy of economy in his early search of an eighth crown at the All-England Club.
Sampras slightly alarmed his army of fans by losing Clavet's opening service-game to love.
But the 29-year-old soon warmed to the task, making the early breakthrough for a 2-1 lead that effectively decided the first set.
Clavet, the world 53 seed, has still to win a match in eight attempts at Wimbledon but is a formidable rival on clay, winning seven titles during his career on that surface. And his pride was never going to let the top seed have it all his own way.
The second set went to a tie-break and Sampras needed a dubious decision, which ruled in favour of his long-looking backhand return at a vital stage, to move into a two-set lead.
But once more he was content to bide his time in the third, pouncing on any slackness by his opponent and efficiently wrapped things up after breaking serve again in the ninth game to secure a second round meeting with Britain's Barry Cowan.
