Sampras is too strong for Ferreira

Pete Sampras has never had it easy against South Africa's Wayne Ferreira, and their first-round meeting at the Masters Series event in Toronto proved no exception.

Ferreira entered the match with a 6-6 career record against the 13-time Grand Slam winner, and again gave the American problems before falling 6-7, 7-5, 4-6.

Sampras, searching for his first title since Wimbledon 2000, was delighted with the win, especially after almost losing the first set in a thrilling tie-break. The South African made up a three-point deficit to level at 6-6, before Sampras won 8-6.

Sampras said: "It was very tight. I was up 5-2 and thought I was in control. When he came back I was a little disappointed and frustrated, but you have to regroup.

"It was a great match confidence wise. Mentally I hung in there. It was my goal to be aggressive and be offensive, because that's my game."

His fellow American Andy Roddick also won through, beating Slovakia's Dominik Hrbaty 6-4, 6-2, while the second seed Marat Safin maintained his 100 per-cent record in Toronto by comfortably overcoming Juan Ignacio Chela 6-4, 6-3.

The fifth seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov booked his spot in round two with a three-set victory over Max Mirnyi, while Carlos Moya earning a second round encounter with Marcelo Rios after defeating the Frenchman Julien Boutter 7-6, 6-4.