Looking nothing like a player intent on reclaiming the No. 1 ranking, Pete Sampras was routed 6-1, 6-1 by Fabrice Santoro at the Monte Carlo Open on Thursday–his worst loss in eight years.
“I’m pretty stunned,” Sampras said. “I really dug myself a big hole. Every aspect of my game was not there. My serve wasn’t there. My forehand wasn’t there.”
It was the third consecutive tournament in which Sampras has lost before the quarterfinals, and his play does not bode well for next month’s French Open on clay.
The loss was Sampras’ worst since a 6-0, 6-1 defeat in 1990 to Jonas Svensson of Sweden.
Sampras, ranked No. 2, still has a chance to overtake No. 1 Marcelo Rios, who is sitting out the tournament with an elbow injury and will give up the No. 1 spot. However, Petr Korda, ranked No. 3, could leapfrog to No. 1 if he makes it to the title match.
