NEW YORK -- He doesn't explode off the baseline and careen madly toward the net quite like he used to. The back doesn't bend as dramatically and, thus, the volleys don't flow as smoothly. The thick black curls on the crown of his head are losing the battle against attrition.

	Pete Sampras is through to the second round at the Open.

Yes, Pete Sampras, who turned 31 a few weeks ago, is finished. He's said so himself, more or less. And yet, here in the hothouse that is the U.S. Open, Sampras has flourished to a degree far beyond what recent returns would suggest.

On Wednesday, he authored a crisp, overwhelmingly non-invasive first-round effort, dispatching Spain's Albert Portas 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 at the National Tennis Center. The match consumed only 95 minutes, just eight minutes more than the debilitating fifth set played Tuesday by Marat Safin.

"I was really pleased the way it went," Sampras said. "It's a pretty good start."

In the post-match press conference, Bud Collins, the flamboyant tennis aficionado, wondered aloud if Sampras, considering his advanced age and stage, was feeling any undue pressure.

"There's always pressure when you play a major. I didn't play like I did, did I?" Sampras said rather pointedly.

"You played fine," Collins backpedaled. "I'm just wondering if this was different."

"No," Sampras said. "I mean, I don't have much to prove here. I've gone to the final seven times ... Sure, there's pressure I put on myself to do well. This is what I play for. I don't feel any different this year than last year."

Sampras was crushed by the then 20-year-old Safin in the 2000 U.S. Open final, ending in many minds the historic run of 13 Grand Slam singles titles. But a year ago, Sampras crashed through again here, beating Patrick Rafter, Andre Agassi and Safin -- former champions all -- to reach his second straight championship match. When Lleyton Hewitt dispatched Sampras in another straight-sets embarrassment, however, most casual tennis observers pretty much wrote him off.

To date, he hasn't done much to dispel that notion.

Since the 2000 Wimbledon title, which broke the record previously held by Australian Roy Emerson, Sampras has played in 33 tournaments and failed to win even one. After six straight seasons at No. 1 (1993-1998), Sampras finished No. 3 in 1999 and 2000 before sliding to No. 10 a year ago. The current ranking is No. 17.

Sampras actually began the year well, advancing to the Round of 16 at the Australian Open (losing to Safin), the semifinals at Indian Wells (losing to Hewitt) and the finals in Houston (losing to Andy Roddick). His record through April stood at a credible 13-7, but it has been a dicey proposition ever since. He lost seven of his next 10 matches, but the unkindest cut of all came at Wimbledon, where he has won seven titles. Sampras was stunned in the second round by Switzerland's George Bastl.

"He's trying to build his confidence," said John McEnroe, the seven-time Grand Slam champion. "He's just trying to get through the first couple of rounds. Given his disappointing Wimbledon, and it was a surprising Wimbledon, this is Pete trying to save his season."

Nine days ago, before the Long Island tournament, Sampras was reflective.

"The days of dominating and being No. 1 are over," he allowed. "I have to get my confidence back and you need to win matches for that to happen. My goal is to win another major, and I believe I can in this year's U.S. Open, even though I haven't shown much this year."

Because of his poor results, Sampras is seeded No. 17 and faces some serious bracket issues. He would be on course to meet No. 3 seed Tommy Haas in the fourth round and No. 11 Roddick in the quarterfinals. This is significant because Sampras has lost to both of them this year.

He is working just as hard, he said, the results just aren't there.

"That's been the most frustrating part at this point," Sampras said. "I have nothing to show for it. I can't dwell on that at the moment. I have to look at the future, not the past."

The future, in this case, features a character from his past. After seven years with coach Paul Annacone, Sampras cut him loose last December. Well, now he's back after brief flings with Tom Gullikson and Jose Higueras didn't work out.

"He's doing the things he needs to do to clear the next hurdle in his game," Annacone said. "Playing like he did today, is good [for his confidence]."

Said Sampras, "He knows my game. It's nice to be comfortable out there and have some peace of mind."

Is it possible, at this stage, that Sampras is enjoying too much peace of mind?

Maybe it's just a coincidence, but Sampras hasn't won a tournament since he married actress Bridgette Wilson in September 2000. Then again, maybe it isn't.

"That's what life's all about, marrying the woman of your dreams and having kids," said Sampras, who is expecting a child with Wilson. "Tennis is still a big focus, but it's not as consuming as it once was. I was so focused for so long that I just kind of had enough of being No. 1 -- just too much pressure. Being married has given me a lot of happiness, given me a good balance out there.

"I used to live and die with my wins and losses. I still get disappointed and frustrated, but when I hit 30, 31, there's more to life than tennis."

Greg Garber is a senior writer at ESPN.com.