NEW YORK -- Lightning struck twice at the U.S. Open.
The day started when Pete Sampras became the first top-seeded player to pull out of the U.S. Open before his first match since 1950. It ended when Patrick Rafter became the first defending champion -- male or female -- to lose in the first round in the 119-year history of the tournament.So shocking were the exits of Sampras and Rafter that losses by sixth-seeded Tim Henman of Britain and No. 13 Alex Corretja of Spain on Day 2 of the year's final major tournament were almost overlooked.
Sampras was seeking a record 13th Grand Slam tournament men's singles title after tying Roy Emerson's mark by winning Wimbledon in July. Instead, Sampras withdrew from the Open after injuring his back during practice on Sunday.
"I did a few tests, CAT scan and an MRI, and it showed I have a herniated disc," Sampras told a packed news conference. "Any time I bend over, I'm very limited. It's really very sore."
Rafter was trying to become the third man since 1926 to win three straight titles at America's premier tennis event, joining John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl. Instead, a sharp pain in his right shoulder forced him to retire in the fifth set of his first-round match against Frenchman Cedric Pioline.
"It was terrible, the pain," the Australian said.
He was scheduled for an MRI today and planned to meet with doctors before deciding what treatment he will undergo.
Sampras never got to a court. Rafter made it to the fifth set before retiring with the score 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 1-0.
Guillermo Canas of Argentina upset Henman 7-6 (7-1), 6-4, 6-3, and Australian Wayne Arthurs bounced Corretja 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6).
The women had no similar upsets as defending champion and No. 2 Lindsay Davenport led a parade of seeded women players into the second round. Also winning first-round matches Tuesday were No. 4 Monica Seles, No. 5 Mary Pierce, No. 7 Serena Williams, No. 9 Julie Halard-Decugis, No. 11 Nathalie Tauziat, No. 14 Sandrine Testud and No. 16 Conchita Martinez.
Gone are Alexandra Stevenson, the surprising qualifier who reached the semifinals at Wimbledon, and the entire Black family of Zimbabwe: brothers Byron and Wayne along with sister Cara.
The right shoulder that has bothered Rafter most of the summer returned suddenly during the match.
He took the first two sets against Pioline but had his shoulder massaged by the ATP Tour trainer several times. After Rafter lost his serve to begin the fifth set, he approached the net, spoke to Pioline and gave up as some fans booed him.
Todd Martin, seeded seventh, struggled before outlasting Stephane Huet of France 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 (2-7), 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-3). Martin's teammate on the U.S. Davis Cup team, Jim Courier, didn't survive the first round, falling to Czech Slava Dosedel 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).
Other seeded men to advance were No. 5 Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil, No. 15 Nicolas Kiefer of Germany and No. 16 Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador.