Rash Of Injuries Takes Toll On Favorites For French Open

Boris Becker, Gabriela Sabatini and Chanda Rubin have already pulled out of the French Open with injuries. Now Pete Sampras, Thomas Muster and Monica Seles also are ailing and in danger of missing the year’s second Grand Slam tournament.

Sampras and Muster, the world’s top players, withdrew from matches Thursday, although both hope to play in Paris next week.

Seles was forced to withdraw from the Madrid Open because of a recurrence of pain in her left shoulder. Seles originally hurt the shoulder during her Australian Open triumph in January.

Sampras pulled out of his match at the World Team Cup in Duesseldorf, Germany, because of back spasms. Muster, the French Open favorite because of his domination on clay courts, injured his right ankle while preparing for his quarterfinal match at St. Poelten, Austria.

Muster was taken to a hospital after limping off the court with a big bandage round his ankle.

“It is … extremely painful,” said Muster, who has won 16 clay-court tournaments in the last two years. “But I’m quite confident that we’ll get it all under control (before) the start in Paris.”

Sampras has experienced problems with the unseasonably cold, wet weather since arriving in Europe.

“If the French Open had begun Wednesday, I would have had to withdraw,” Sampras said. “I will practice (today) and then decide if I can play Saturday.”

The draw for the two-week event will be held today.