Pistol Pete Shot Down By Lucky Loser

Torn from his beloved Centre Court, seven times winner Pete Sampras became the latest corpse on Wimbledon's graveyard of champions, falling in an epic five-set second round defeat to 145th ranked Swiss George Bastl.

The 6-3 6-2 4-6 3-6 6-4 defeat marks the earliest exit from Wimbledon for Sampras since losing in the second round in 1991 and tarnishes the shine on his glittering career.

Bastl was a lucky loser from qualifying to get into the main draw but did not need luck against the winner of a record 13 grand slam crowns.

The 27-year-old Swiss player made the decisive break through 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.