Sampras Loses at Wimbledon

L O N D O N, July 2 -- Pete Sampras' bid for a recordeighth Wimbledon crown was destroyed today when thetop-seeded American fell in five dramatic sets to Swiss teenagerRoger Federer in the fourth round.

Sampras had been beaten just once in eight years at theworld's most prestigious tournament, amassing a record-equallingseven men's crowns between 1993 and 2000, but his luck finallyran out as he lost 7-6 5-7 6-4 6-7 7-5 on Centre Court.

"I'm just really disappointed but I lost to a really greatplayer out there.

"It wasn't going to last forever, nothing is going to lastforever," Sampras said.

Last year's victory saw Sampras rack up a record 13th GrandSlam title but he was simply outfought today in a nervelessdisplay from 19-year-old Federer.

First Loss in Five-Set Match

Sampras had never lost a five-set match at Wimbledon andlooked as though he had saved himself when he won the fourth setin a tiebreak.

But 15th seed Federer, junior Wimbledon champion in 1998,broke Sampras on his first matchpoint in the deciding set with aforehand return before sinking to his knees on the court Samprascalls his "backyard."

Federer, a first round loser here in 1999 and 2000, willplay either British sixth seed Tim Henman or American 23rd seedTodd Martin. Martin led 7-6 6-7 6-4 when play was halted becauseof bad light.

"It feels unbelievable," Federer said. "The best win of mylife."

Rounding Out the Quarters

Australian fifth seed Lleyton Hewitt also crumbled in fivesets, losing to France's Nicolas Escude 4-6 6-4 6-3 4-6 6-4.

Hewitt, unbeaten on grass this season, extended his win-lossrecord on the slick surface to 15-0 as he ploughed through theearly rounds at Wimbledon but never looked totally at ease inhis first three matches, and against Escude he ran out of ideas.

"I've had a great grass-court season but it's over now,though," Hewitt said.

Escude will face Andre Agassi in the quarter-finals afterthe second seed and 1992 champion beat German 19th seed NicolasKiefer 6-3 7-5 7-5.