LONDON, June 26: Seven-time Pete Sampras crashed out in the second round of the US$13.2-million Wimbledon Championships Monday, his earliest loss at his favourite event since 1991.

Swiss lucky loser entry George Bastl, beaten in qualifying rounds but inserted into the draw when Spain’s Felix Mantilla withdrew injured, scored the win of his life in his first meeting with the master.

The underdog pulled off the shock of recent Wimbledons 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4.

Sampras, winner of 63 career titles including a record 13 Grand Slam singles crowns, was beaten in his 14th appearance on the grass of the All England club.

Bastl, 27, was beaten in the first round of qualifying last week and had only taken a grass victory on one previous occasion - his first-round match Monday.

The Swiss is playing in only his fourth ATP-level event of the season, losing in the first round in his three previous efforts.

Sampras has won only two official grass matches this season, beating Andrei Stoliarov in Halle, Germany, and Briton martin in the Wimbledon first round.

Second seed Marat Safin also went out on the upset tide, losing to Belgian outsider Olivier Rochus 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-1).

The underdog swept the first two sets, dropped the third as the Russian tried to fight back and took victory in the fourth when Safin sent a return out on the first of five match points to the Belgian.

Safin was taken to five sets at the French Open last month by Rochus, who beat his elder brother Christophe in the opening round.

Safin’s best Wimbledon showing was a quarter-finals last year after not getting past the second round in two previous appearances.

Rochus played the giant-killer here in 2000 as a qualifier, beating Swedish third seed Magnus Norman in the second round.

French Open champion Serena illiams looked sluggish and played below her best but still earned a 6-3 6-3 second-round victory over Italy’s Francesca Schiavone.

A distracted Williams peppered the court with errors and dropped her serve in the third game of the first set despite producing two aces.

But the 20-year old American hureld herself back into the match using her big serve and power off the ground to break twice and take the set.

Schiavone, ranked 45 in the world, raced around the baseline, running down every shot but could not match her opponent’s speed and strength.

Though out of sorts Williams, who protested about several line calls, forced the 22-year-old Italian into mistakes at the net and wrapped up the match on Schiavone’s serve with some blistering returns.

During one rally she lost her hairband and the umpire called a let. Williams complied but looked very grumpy.

UNHAPPY SAMPRAS