Sampras laments whitewash

Marat Safin celebrates his win over Alex Corretja

Five-time Masters champion Pete Sampras knows he must considerably better his first-round performance if he is to retain his title.

Sampras had not lost a deciding set 6-0 for 10 years, but Lleyton Hewitt beat him 7-5 6-0, in just 75 minutes.

Last year Sampras was thrashed 6-2 6-2 by Andre Agassi in the round robin stages of the event and went on to win it.

He said: "I knew I might be a little bit rusty in the beginning, but I thought I'd gain confidence as the match went on."

Lleyton Hewitt caused an upset against Sampras

"To be honest with you, I just lost confidence. I didn't really feel like I found my game at all during the match.

"I mean, 6-0 - it's just not good enough really."

Sampras remains optimistic about his chances, however, but must first beat Spain's Alex Corretja on Wednesday evening and then world number one Marat Safin on Thursday to reach the semi-finals.

"I'm not out of it, you know," Sampras said.

"Although this is not the way I wanted to start off the event.

"But I can draw on what happened last year, not having played much since the US Open I went to the Masters and won.

"I know I can do it. I have just got to somehow find a way of putting this match in the dump and rebound."

High stakes

Meanwhile Andre Agassi will have some sympathy for his long-time rival after he said he believed the Masters was tougher than winning a Grand Slam.

After beating Gustavo Kuerten in a round robin clash on Tuesday night, the American said: "In many ways it is easier to win a Slam than it is to win this tournament.

"It is really high stakes - guys in this tournament know how to win."

I feel like my game's at a place right now where just a few matches and I could start to play great

  Andre Agassi

Agassi added: "In this tournament, guys really know how to close you out.

"You've got to play well from start to finish.

"You also have to play back to back, so you're playing great players day after day.

"That's harder physically and mentally than playing three days out of five and having days to regroup and get ready for your next one."

The 30-year-old American is convinced he can go one better than last year when he lost in the final to Pete Sampras.

"Well, I believe where I am right now, I could surprise myself. I always like that. I mean, I'm expecting to stay healthy for three matches, at least.

"I feel like my game's at a place right now where just a few matches and I could start to play great.

"My expectations will grow every day."

Earlier, US Open champion Safin, bidding at 20 to become the youngest man to end the year as world number one, spoke of his win over Alex Corretja.

He said: "Suddenly everything just changed. He just let me play a little bit more."

Safin has won a Tour-leading seven titles this season, and this win moves him a step closer to becoming the first non-American year-end number one since Swede Stefan Edberg in 1991.