MASON. Ohio. Aug 7: Top Ten players Pete Sam fras and Jim ourier won their opening matches against unseeded

opponents in high heat and humidity to advance In the ATP Championship, reports AP

Sampras summarily dis posed of Switzerland s Jakob Hlasek 6 3 6-4 in 57 minutes Tuesday night after Courier needed two hours and 12 min utes to overcome England s Greg Rusedski in the previous match 6-7. (3-7) 6 3. 6-4

Sampras, the tournament s top seed and the world s top ranked player said he was pleased with his performance after having taken five weeks off since his quarterfinal loss at Wimbledon

To beat a guy like Jakob who s given me problems in the past with a big serve ft was a good test Sampras said "I think I handled it pretty well."

Hlasek had defeated Wade McGuire on Monday to face Sampras

Tne unseeded Rusedski, who eliminated Denmark s Kenneth Carlsen on Monday, used a powerhouse serve to beat Courier in their 56-minute first set Courier battled back with an aggressive serve and crafty groundstrokes as Rusedski s ser-e got erratic in the waning stretch of the match in 80 per cent humidity and a temperature in the low 80s Centigrade (26-28 Fahrenheit)

Courier, the world's ninth

ranked player has beaten Rusedski all three times they have played

Courier who lives in Miami said he thrives in extreme conditions but needed time to regain his intensity

I hadn t played many matches since the French Open It s always difficult to get the mind going — the inten atty The body a willing, but the mind isn't." he said

Rusedski said he hurt him self because he wasn t aggres sive in returning Couriers serves

If you don't play intelligent tennis and get on the back ot the court against Jim. you're going to gel beat Rusedaki said. "I'm disappointed the way 1 returned 1 wasn't attack ing him."

All the other seeded play ers in action Tuesday — No. 9 Wayne Ferreira. No 11 Mabvai Washington and No 1 4 < edn. Pioline — won their matches to advance

Spain s Sergei Bruguera still weary from his Olympic silver medal-winning perfor mance last week lost to Australia s Patrick Rafter 6-1

Rafter ranked 68th on the tour, had been O-5 in his ra reer against Bruguera

"I was here without energy said the 70th ranked Bruguera. who came to the ATP straight from Atlanta where he lost to Andre Agassi 6-2. 6-3, 6-1 in the gold medal round Saturday

"Even practice was very very tough for me. he said The Olympics go for two weeks like a Grand Slam event, and I ve never played in a tournament the week after a Grand Slam

Rafter, who reached the second round of last week s Infiniti Open in LA also confessed to being tired.

I ve been trying to get over a cold, he said

"I was able to hang in there for the first few games and then I was able *o lift my game white his just remained flat *

Agassi teased Bruguera about his Olympic loss before saving that he. too was tired

T beat up on him didn t IT Agassi said "It was definitely draining, especially with all the security involved and the daily protocol of just getting into the locker room It might take me a little longer to get going again, but I don t think

It will be too much of a prob lent '

Washington, the Wimbledon runner up needed to win 12 of the final 15 points. Inciud Ing eight in a row. to overcome having his serve broken twice In the second set of a 6-4. 7-5 win over France's Guillaume Raoux.

Ferreira detested Belgium s Fllip Dewulf 6-2, 6-3. Hoiine was extended to three sets before overcoming Australia s Sandon Stolle. 2 6, 6-3. 6 4

Also. Ukrainian Andrei Me dvedev outlasted Czechoalova klan Martin Damm 6 4 7 6 (7 31 and Sweden ► Stef in Edberg breezed past Italy* Stefano Pescosolldo 6 2 6 1 Edberg 30 who is playing his last pro tennis circuit lielore retiring, was honoured by the ATP tournament Monday night

Sweden b Jonas Bjorkman ranked 58th, upset 26th ranked Renzo Furlan ol Italy 6-3 7 6 (7 3)

Great American Insurance sponsors the 2 2 million dol lars ATP Championship