TENNIS ROUNDUP : Training Pays Off for Courier on Clay

Jim Courier, playing his first clay-court match of the year against one of the game’s toughest players on that surface, beat Thomas Muster in straight sets Tuesday in a first-round match of the $1.4 million Italian Open in Rome.

Courier defeated Muster, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4.

“This is my first match on clay after a long time, but I trained for three weeks before coming to Rome,” said Courier, who is preparing for a defense of his French Open title, a Grand Slam event played on clay.

Pete Sampras, the second-seeded player, had little trouble disposing of Italy’s Paolo Cane, winning, 6-4, 6-4, in 1 hour 20 minutes.

The tournament lost another top player when fourth-seeded Michael Stich of Germany withdrew, complaining of pain in his left Achilles’ tendon.

Also advancing were ninth-seeded Ivan Lendl, who beat Jordi Arese of Spain, 6-1, 6-4, and 11th-seeded Emilio Sanchez of Spain, who beat Christian Bergstrom of Sweden, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.

Defending champion Steffi Graf beat Mercedes Paz of Argentina, 6-2, 6-4, in the second round of the Berlin Open.