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Sampras doesn't put a foot wrong

Pete Sampras, playing his first competitive match after his Wimbledon triumph, beat Gianluca Pozzi 6-1 6-2 in the second round of the $2.45 million Canadian Open in Toronto on Wednesday.

"Playing someone who doesn't have a huge serve gave me time to get into a rhythm and feel the surroundings and the court speed," Sampras said. "I was pretty pleased with the way I played."

Sampras has been taking time off to recover from an operation to remove a wart from his foot. "It's fine now, the foot," the world number one said.

He will next play 41st-ranked Tommy Haas of Germany.

Eighth-seeded Andre Agassi extended his hot streak further, recording his 12th match victory in a row following back-to-back tournament triumphs in Los Angeles and Washington, and the American Davis Cup team win over Belgium of July 17-19.

In the second round, Agassi defeated France's Guillaume Raoux 6-4 7-5.

"It's always difficult to change environments, change surfaces, change the elements," Agassi said. "It's a lot slower and heavier here than in Los Angeles. A couple of times I got careless and didn't quite finish off my shots because I was so used to the ball taking off."

In the next round, Agassi goes up against tenth seeded Goran Ivanisevic -- a player who could stop his hot streak. "He (Ivanisevic) has problems staying focused and confident, but when he plays top players he raises his level," Agassi said. "I'm seeing the ball clearly, seeing it early and I'm really looking forward to playing him."

Ivanisevic eliminated Armenian Sargis Sargsian 6-3 6-2 in the second round.

Third-seeded Patrick Rafter of Australia beat qualifier Neville Godwin of South Africa 7-5 6-3, and will next play compatriot and former doubles partner Mark Philippoussis, who registered a 6-1 6-4 victory over Wayne Black of Zimbabwe.

Fourth seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia beat American Todd Martin 6-2 6-3, and will next face another American, MaliVai Washington.

Britain's seventh seeded Tim Henman struggled to overcome Argentine Guillermo Canas 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-2, and will now ninth seed Albert Costa of Spain, a 6-4 6-2 winner over American Jan-Michael Gambill.

The only one of the top eight seeds who failed to reach the round of 16 was second seed Petr Korda of the Czech Republic. He was ousted 5-7 6-1 6-4 by 44th-ranked Vince Spadea of the United States.