Sampras fires US Open warning

Sampras last won a tournament at Wimbledon 2000

Tuesday's results

Pete Sampras insists he can still be a major threat at the US Open despite losing to Paul-Henri Mathieu in the second round of the TD Waterhouse Cup in New York.

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The former world number one, who had a bye in the first round, slumped 3-6 7-6 4-6 to Mathieu, one of the last of the 48 players to get into the main draw.

Sampras, a four-time US Open champion, has not won a tournament since Wimbledon in 2000.

But despite his 17th seeding at Flushing Meadows, he is adamant he can add to his record tally of 13 Grand Slam titles.

"People have to realize who I am when I get to the US Open next week," said Sampras.

"I'm still one of the favourites. The fear factor is still there in the majors, although maybe not as much as it used to be.

"When it comes to that tournament, I'm there."

Mathieu reached the last 16 at Roland Garros

Meanwhile, Frenchman Mathieu was ecstatic to have beaten one of the game's all-time greats.

"This is the biggest win of my career," said Mathieu. "It's a great feeling.

"I had the same feeling when I played against Agassi.

"You see them on television all the time, but I tried not to be in awe of them. I played my own game."

In other second-round action Younes El Aynaoui beat Richard Krajicek 5-7 7-6 (7/5) 6-4 and Alex Corretja came past Adrian Voinea 3-6 7-6 (7/5) 6-4.

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Tuesday's results

Second round

B Ulihrach (Cze) bt (10) M Zabaleta (Arg) 6-4 6-4

P-H Mathieu (Fra) bt P Sampras (USA) 6-3 6-7 (7/9) 6-4

A Martin (Spa) bt (15) F Santoro (Fra) 6-4 7-6 (7/4)
(4) Y El Aynaoui (Mor) bt R Krajicek (Ned) 5-7 7-6 (7/5) 6-4
(5) A Corretja (Spa) bt A Voinea (Rom) 3-6 7-6 (7/5) 6-4

First round

J-M Gambill (US) bt J Boutter (Fra) 7-5 6-4

P Srichaphan (Tha) bt F Meligeni (Bra) 6-1 6-3

V Spadea (USA) bt M Norman (Swe) 6-4 6-3

M Fish (USA) bt O Rochus (Bel) 6-4 1-6 6-3

R Delgado (Par) bt A Sa (Bra) 7-5 4-6 6-3