Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi made stunning quick exits in the first round of the ATP $400,000 Franklin Templeton Classic last night.
Veteran Spaniard Francisco Clavet is on a two-match winning streak against the second seeded Agassi. He won in abusiness-like manner 6-1, 6-7 (2/7), 7-5 in two hours and 24 minutes.
"He played well, he came out and hit well," said a surprisingly upbeat Agassi. "It took me a while to find any rhythm. I just didn't take care of my opportunities and he stepped it up at the end."
Clavet said the match was similar to when he beat Agassi last year. "I started well and found my rhythm. I played very relaxed," he said.
Agassi's loss left the tournament without the top two drawcards in the space of a few hours. Earlier the top seeded Sampras was eliminated by Andrew Ilie of Australia.
Ilie scored a shock 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 win in just under two hours.
"If you don't win a lot of matches, you struggle with confidence," said Sampras. "The only thing to do is get back on the practise court. It's not a time to panic."
Defending champion Lleyton Hewitt kept the Australian flag flying when he easily handled Spaniard David Sanchez 6-1, 6-3.
Italy's Andrea Gaudenzi ended a seven-match losing streak by beating eighth seed Sjeng Schalken of Holland 6-4, 7-5. AFP