Brazilian Fernando Meligeni caused the biggest shock of the Italian Open in Rome yesterday when ousting Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras 6-3 6-1 in their second round match.

Sampras said he was "disgusted" with the way he played and that he is unable to adjust his game to the conditions when the match is on clay.

Meligeni, ranked 58 in the world, passed Sampras too often with ease when the second-seeded American ventured to the net.

"When you play against Pete, you know you're playing a guy who was world number one for six years in a row," said Meligeni. "He's a legend for us."

With the French Open, the only Grand Slam played on clay and the only major Sampras has never won, starting on May 24th, the loss marked a setback in his efforts to raise his game on the surface. "I have to get back to the drawing board," he said.

Twelfth seed Greg Rusedski failed to adapt his fast court game to clay and was crushed 6-3 6-3 by Ecuadorian Nicolas Lapentti.

Meanwhile, second seed Jana Novotna of the Czech Republic suffered a shock defeat at the German Open in Berlin yesterday when she was beaten in straight sets by Romanian Ruxandra Dragomir.

Top seed Martina Hingis of Switzerland eased past Spain's Gala Leon Garcia 6-3, 6-2.