Third seed Pete Sampras went out of the Australian Open today, beaten 6-7 6-3 6-4 6-4 by unseeded American compatriot Todd Martin.
Sampras, winner of a record 13 grand slam singles titles including two Australian Opens, crashed to a shock defeat in two-and-a-half hours.
Martin had never beaten Sampras in a grand slam and lost the 1994 Australian Open final to him.
But the 30-year-old Martin, who also lost a U.S. Open final to Andre Agassi, recovered from losing the first set on a tiebreak to win.
He broke Sampras's serve four times and dropped his own service only once as the world number three started to show signs of tiredness after three tough matches earlier in the week.
Martin will play Agassi in the quarter-finals. - Reuters