Bastl blasts away Pistol Pete

Swiss lucky loser George Bastl sensationally sent Pete Sampras spinning out of Wimbledon on Court Two - the infamous graveyard of champions.

The seven-times champion conceded the first two sets rather lamely, then fought back to 2-2 before being broken once in the final set to bow out 6-3 6-2 4-6 3-6 6-4.

Bastl was beaten in the qualifiers and only got into the main draw when Spain's Felix Mantilla withdrew with an ankle injury.

But he defied his world ranking of 145 as Sampras dropped his serve twice in the opening set. Bastl secured the first break to go 4-3 ahead when Sampras tamely dumped a backhand volley into the net.

He captured a second successive break to win the set with a sizzling forehand down the line which Sampras could only watch.

Sampras plunged deep into trouble, having his serve broken twice more as he lost the second set 6-2 to go 2-0 down.

Bastl broke him for the third successive service game when the former champion tamely put a forehand into the net to go 2-0 behind. Sampras was totally outplayed in the game, being left flat-footed by an exquisite lob, beaten powerfully down both flanks and then left rooted to the spot after racing to a drop shot - only to see a crosscourt forehand flash past him.

The American had a break point in the seventh game but Bastl redeemed himself for an earlier double fault by serving his way out of trouble - and immediately broke his opponent for the fourth time to take the set.

Sampras kept his hopes alive by taking the third set 6-4. He finally broke Bastl's serve at the 10th attempt to take a 2-1 lead.

Services dominated after that with neither showing any sign of cracking again. Bastl stayed in contention at 5-4 down with a superb ace down the middle before Sampras, after glaring at a linesman who called one of his serves out, clinched the set.

Sampras took the fourth set 6-3 to level the match at two sets all after two and a half hours.

He broke serve for only the second time in the match to move 3-2 ahead, going 40-0 up before converting the second break point.

Sampras, aided by a delicate drop shot and two double faults from the Swiss player, broke again to go into a fifth set for the 47th time in his career.

Bastl made the decisive breakthrough in the ninth game of the final set after valiantly fighting off Sampras' earlier attempts to break him and go 4-2 up.

Bastl took advantage to seize the initiative after Sampras double faulted in the crucial game to go 30-30. He then attacked the Sampras serve before putting a backhand down the line and then passing Sampras to set up his moment of glory.

Victory was complete when Sampras hit a forehand way long and, after Bastl saluted the crowd Sampras trudged wearily off, momentarily waving without even taking a backward glance.