Wimbledon: Cowan struggles to master Sampras

Pete Sampras remained firmly on course for a record-equalling fifth straight Wimbledon title as he breezed through the first set of his second round clash with Britain’s Barry Cowan.

Cowan had the satisfaction of winning the toss on Court One but it was not long before the suspicion was confirmed that that was likely to be the only thing he would be winning tonight.

The Lancashire left-hander did at least hold his own in the early stages, holding his serve for the loss of just one point in the first two games and getting to 0-30 on the number one’s seed in the fifth game.

But that seemed only to serve to wake Sampras up and after Cowan’s thumping first serve snapped a string on the American’s racket in the sixth game, two consecutive double faults from the Briton helped Sampras achieve the vital break.

Cowan saved two set points in reduce his deficit to 5-3 but it was only delaying the inevitable and another ace from the top seed sealed the set 6-3.