TENNIS ROUNDUP : Sampras Upset by Stafford

Pete Sampras, the world’s top-ranked player, was matched serve for serve and ace for ace in a 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 loss to Grant Stafford on Wednesday in the second round of the Queen’s Club grass-court championships at London.

It was a lackadaisical performance by the American in his first--and now only--match on grass in preparation for Wimbledon.

“There are times when you miss home a little bit,� Sampras said. “And this is one of those times.�

Sampras said he was tired of the yearly European grind that has kept him away from his Tampa, Fla., home for five weeks for the Italian and French Opens.

“A lot of the American guys--while they don’t dread Europe--it’s not like being at home,� he said. “It’s no excuse, though. I played like an idiot today.�

It was the third major upset of the tournament. Fourth-seeded Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia and fifth-seeded Ivan Lendl both bowed out Tuesday.

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Australian qualifier Kristine Radford surprised top-seeded Martina Navratilova, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, in a third-round match at the women’s grass-court championships at Edgbaston, England.

It was the first time the 36-year-old American had dropped so much as a set at the event, which she won in 1989 and 1991.

“I’m disappointed that I didn’t hold serve better,� said the nine-time Wimbledon champion. “She plays well against me. If she played like that all the time, she would be in the top five.�

Navratilova looked to be on her way to a comfortable victory when she won seven consecutive games to take the first set and lead, 2-0, in the second.

But Radford, ranked 170th, pulled even at 3-3, then won the set four games later on Navratilova’s fifth double-fault of the match.

Radford broke serve again to lead, 5-3, in the third set and won the match on her second match point, when Navratilova netted a forehand return of serve.

The 23-year-old Australian, smiling broadly, described her victory as “awesome.�

“Martina’s my idol and always has been,� she said. “To beat her on grass, which is her best surface, is great. I’m beside myself.�

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Top-seeded Andrei Medvedev of Ukraine was the first seeded player to be knocked out of the Continental Grass Court Championships at Rosmalen, Netherlands, losing to Gianluca Pozzi of Italy, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).