Sampras highlights big-name card

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Wednesday, August 12, 1998

BY MICHAEL PERRY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Thomas Muster, celebrating Tuesday's victory, has a tough match todaty against Todd Martin.. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

MASON -- Top-ranked Marcelo Rios is gone from the Great American Insurance ATP Championship, a straight-set loser to Daniel Vacek Tuesday night. But plenty of big names begin play today:

Top-seeded (and No. 2 world ranked) Pete Sampras, French Open champion Carlos Moya, Australian Open champion Petr Korda and 1997 U.S. Open champion Patrick Rafter, who is No. 3 in the world and coming off a victory last week in Toronto, take the stage.

Here's a look at some of today's top matchups:

Todd Martin vs. Thomas Muster (11 a.m., Center Court): Martin looked good in his first-round match and has beaten Muster two of three times, including twice in the last year. Muster looked solid in his first-round victory over Tim Henman.

Sampras vs. Martin Damm (about 1 p.m., Center Court). Sampras, the reigning Wimbledon champion, won the ATP last year.

Albert Costa vs. Tommy Haas (about 1 p.m., Court 3): Costa is No. 14 in the world but could have his hands full with No. 40 Haas, who ousted Jim Courier on Monday.

Michael Chang vs. Yevgeny Kafelnikov (about 3 p.m., Center Court): This should be a good one. Kafelnikov has beaten Chang in their only two meetings (1994, '97).

Goran Ivanisevic vs. Mark Philippoussis (about 3 p.m., Grandstand Court): Take cover. These are two hard-hitting guys who will slug it out.

Andre Agassi vs. Vince Spadea (7 p.m., Center Court): Think Spadea doesn't want this one? Despite his moving up in the rankings to No. 44, Agassi said of his fellow American: "He should do more. It doesn't impress me yet."

Luke and Murphy Jensen vs. Kafelnikov and Vacek (about 9 p.m., Center Court): It's sure to be entertaining, and the struggling Jensens may have a better chance because Kafelnikov will be playing his second match of the day.

ATP PAGE

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Sports Headlines for Wednesday, August 12, 1998

A weight off his shoulders
Ballpark camps plot campaigns
"Real' Agassi stands up
'Turf war' between Bowden, Allen
ATP NOTEBOOK
BENGALS NOTEBOOK
Brown: Scott, Pickens must step up
Chang does stand-up routine
Doing three jobs assures Bush of one
Fabini impressing Jets
Hammonds happy to play
IBL will mine local talent
Ivanisevic battles Wimbledon funk
McGwire breaks HR slump
REDS NOTEBOOK
Rios one and done
Sampras highlights big-name card
Today's schedule
Tomko struggles again
Tough year for Philippoussis
Tuesday's results