The world's two top players Pete Sampras and Michael Chang crashed out of the Italian Open yesterday with the crowd whistling and jeering as the Americans lost.

Top seed Sampras, beaten at the same stage on his last visit in 1995, was booed on his way to a 7-6 6-4 defeat at the hands of unseeded compatriot and friend Jim Courier.

Second seed Chang's 6-3 6-2 loss to Argentine Hernan Gumy was also his second consecutive first round elimination following defeat at the American red clay court championships.