WIMBLEDON, England -- Pete Sampras took his first slippery steps toward a record eighth Wimbledon title Monday, even winning a set as he skidded to the grass that has been so good to him.

Sampras won his 29th straight match at the tournament, beating Francisco Clavet of Spain, who prefers the slower clay surface, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.

Sampras had 19 aces and never faced break point -- and won the final point of the second-set tiebreaker after falling. He scrambled to his feet just as Clavet returned a deep forehand into the net. Clavet protested in vain that Sampras' shot was long.

"There were some obvious (line calls) that were very questionable," top-seeded Sampras said.

Sampras' victory was the 54th in his past 55 Wimbledon matches. But, at 29, his game is down from its peak. He hasn't won a tournament since last year's Wimbledon.

If he wins the title again this year, he'll tie Bjorn Borg's modern-day record of five consecutive titles. He's now tied for overall men's titles with Willie Renshaw, who won seven in the 1880s, when the defending champion drew a bye to the final.

"He had it easier back then because he just had to win one match," Sampras said.

Sampras has it much easier on grass. He lost last month in the second round on the clay of the French Open.

"I love the (Centre) court and when I step out there I draw a lot of memories," he said. The surface was "like it always is the first day. It's very slippery. ... I lost my footing a couple of times."

But he stood tall in the final game, winning the last two points on a deep lob and a forehand by Clavet that sailed long.

Andy Roddick, touted as the next American star, won his Wimbledon debut at age 18 against Ivo Heuberger of Switzerland 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (0).

In other matches, U.S. Open champion Marat Safin of Russia, seeded fourth, beat Julian Knowle 6-2, 7-5, 5-7, 6-3; British hope Tim Henman, seeded sixth, disposed of qualifier Artem Derepasko of Russia 6-1, 6-1, 6-1; and Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia, a three-time runner-up but now unseeded, beat Fredrik Jonsson of Sweden 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero won his first career match on grass by defeating British qualifier Luke Milligan 6-0, 6-2, 6-2.

No. 2 Andre Agassi and No. 3 Patrick Rafter play Tuesday.