HALLE (Germany), June 11: Seven-time Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras struggled to a three-set win over feisty Russian Andrei Stoliarov in the first round of the Gerry Weber Open on Tuesday.

Sampras, using the German grasscourt tournament as a warm-up for Wimbledon, beat the lowly ranked Russian 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 but did not look sharp on the surface he loves.

First round results

4-Pete Sampras (US) beat Andrei Stoliarov (Russia) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4; Rainer Schuettler (Germany) beat 5-Jiri Novak (Czech Republic) 6-3, 6-2; Kenneth Carlsen (Denmark) beat Hicham Arazi (Morocco) 6-1, 4-6, 6-1; Stefan Koubek (Austria) beat 7-Carlos Moya (Spain) 6-3, 6-3; Andrei Pavel (Romania) beat Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.

Queen’s Club results:

First round: 14-Olivier Rochus (Belgium) beat Noam Okun (Israel) 2-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-4; Robby Ginepri (US) beat 15-Paradorn Srichaphan (Thailand) 6-4, 0-6, 6-4; Gilles Elseneer (Belgium) bt Alex Bogdanovic (Britain) 6-3, 6-2; Michael Russell (US) beat Jean-Francois Bachelot (France) 7-5, 6-1; Mike Bryan (US) bt Cedric Pioline (France) 6-4, 6-4; Harel Levy (Israel) beat Christophe Rochus (Belgium) 7-5, 6-1; Mardy Fish (US) beat Andre Sa (Brazil) 6-3, 6-4; Jan Vacek (Czech Republic) beat Ivo Karlovic (Croatia) 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 6-3; 9-Todd Martin (US) beat Ramon Delgado (Paraguay) 6-2, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (8-6); Wayne Arthurs (Australia) beat Nicolas Coutelot (France) 7-6 (7-5), 6-3; Vince Spadea (US) beat Michael Llodra (France) 7-6 (7-5), 7-5; Jeff Morrison (US) beat Andrew Ilie (Australia) 6-3, 6-1; Adrian Voinea (Romania) beat Gregory Carraz (France) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4; Neville Godwin (South Africa) beat Richard Gasquet (France) 7-6 (7-4), 5-7, 6-3.

Second round: Mark Philippoussis (Australia) beat 6-Greg Rusedski (Britain) 7-6 (7-1), 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-5).—Reuters/AFP