Sampras, of All People, Trumped by Larsson Aces

Top-seeded Pete Sampras was upset by Sweden’s Magnus Larsson at the RCA Championships on Thursday in Indianapolis, ending the top-ranked player’s winning streak at 13 matches.

Larsson, seeded 16th in the tournament and ranked 37th in the world, used a strong serve to eliminate Sampras, 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 7-6 (7-5).

Larsson had 18 aces to Sampras’ 11 in the 2-hour 7-minute match. He led, 6-0, in the third-set tiebreaker but wasn’t shaken when Sampras rallied to 6-5.

Andre Agassi, seeded 14th, continued his strong play after months of frustration. He advanced to the quarterfinals with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over third-seeded Alex Corretja of Spain.

*

Fifth-seeded Arantxa Sanchez Vicario was upset, 6-4, 6-3, by 10th-seeded doubles partner Mary Joe Fernandez and sixth-seeded Mary Pierce was ousted, 6-2, 6-2, by Italy’s Rita Grande in the du Maurier Open in Toronto. . . . Top-seeded Yevgeny Kafelnikov ousted Slava Dosedel, 6-2, 6-3, and unseeded David Wheaton won twice as the Pilot Pen International made up for Wednesday’s near-washout in New Haven, Conn. Wheaton started his day by upsetting third-seeded Mark Philippoussis, 6-7 (7-2), 6-3, 6-4, and ended it hours later by beating Marc Goellner, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4. Defending champion Alex O’Brien was upset, 7-5, 6-3, earlier by Goellner.

Golf

Australian Karrie Webb fired a seven-under-par 65 and took a three-stroke lead in the first-round of the Women’s British Open in Sunningdale, England. Three strokes back at 68 were Liselotte Neumann of Sweden and Trish Johnson of England. Defending champion Emilee Klein of Studio City was at 69.

Pro Basketball

Reportedly spurning a more lucrative offer from the Clippers, point guard Howard Eisley re-signed with the Utah Jazz.

Terms of the contract were not disclosed, but Eisley, John Stockton’s backup, said, “It’s enough. I’m happy.”

The Cleveland Cavaliers renewed their commitment to Coach Mike Fratello, signing him to a five-year contract extension and dispelling reports that his slowdown style had worn out its welcome. . . . Paul Rogers, one of the Lakers’ two second-round draft picks, has informed the team he will play in Spain this season, although the Lakers have not been notified that the 7-foot center has signed a contract. . . . Phoenix Sun guard Rex Chapman had surgery on his right wrist, which he broke when he fell during a pickup game two weeks ago.

Hockey

Tests performed on the remains of a marijuana cigarette do not link it to Richard Snida, the driver of the limousine involved in a June 13 accident that injured Detroit Red Wing players Vladimir Konstantinov and Vyacheslav Fetisov and trainer Sergei Mnatsakanov, an Oakland County prosecutor said in Detroit.

The Carolina Hurricanes signed free-agent goaltender Mike Fountain to a multiyear contract, fueling speculation the NHL team plans to trade Sean Burke. . . . Goaltender Tommy Salo of the New York Islanders was awarded a one-year contract with a base salary of $750,000 plus incentives by an arbitrator. . . . The NHL and its referees and linesmen have agreed in principle to a deal that will run through the 2000-2001 season. . . . Jason Botterill, the Dallas Stars’ 1994 first-round draft pick, signed a three-year deal, then underwent surgery to repair a torn tendon in his shoulder. . . . Defenseman Steve Smith is retiring after a 13-year career, the last six with the Chicago Blackhawks. . . . The status of Tampa Bay Lightning center Chris Gratton remained unresolved after an arbitration hearing in Toronto failed to bring a decision on an offer sheet extended by the Philadelphia Flyers.

Miscellany

Marvin Webster Jr., a 19-year-old Temple University basketball player and the son of former NBA player Marvin Webster, died in Greensboro, N.C., after suffering a heart attack Tuesday. . . . Rick Hendrick, a successful auto dealer and stock car team owner, pleaded guilty to mail fraud in Asheville, N.C. The plea agreement in a business bribery case should keep him out of jail. . . . Ukrainian shotputter Aleksander Bagach, stripped of his gold medal after testing positive for the stimulant ephedrine at track and field’s World Championships, blames a New Jersey company and wants to be paid damages by Universal Nutrition after using the product “Quick Energy.” . . . Emil “Bus” Mosbacher, the winning skipper in America’s Cup yachting races in 1962 and 1968, died of cancer in Greenwich, Conn. He was 75. . . . Jeanette Antolin, 15, of Huntington Beach is tied for ninth in the senior preliminary all-around standings at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Denver. She is tied for third in the vault. . . Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns had 13 points at Halifax, Canada, to lead the Canadian men’s national basketball team to a 64-61 exhibition victory over the U.S. team that will play in the World University Games.