WIMBLEDON, England -- Britain's Greg Rusedski, the 14th seed among men's singles players, took a beating on the court, losing his first-round match to Vince Spadea to end the American's record 21-match losing streak.

He also got beat up in Tuesday's British papers.

"World's biggest loser rolls over Rusedski," The Independent headline said.

"Greg's a goner," said The Daily Mail. "He fought like a dog but played like one."

"Scrambled Greg," added The Mirror.

While Rusedski didn't survive the first round at Wimbledon, he figures his record serve of 149 mph, set in 1998, is safe. That's because the International Tennis Federation has brought bigger balls into the game, about 6 percent larger than before.

"They are making the threads of the balls fluff up a lot more and keep increasing the size," Rusedski said.

Sampras is otherwise engaged at Wimbledon
Pete Sampras has a Centre Court rival -- actress/fiancee Bridgette Wilson.

The blond Californian was photographed more than Sampras as she sat at Centre Court watching the six-time champion's opening-round victory Monday over Jiri Vanek.

"Soap girl who has Sampras bubbling," said Tuesday's Daily Mail, which ran a photo showing Wilson propping her chin on her left hand, displaying a large engagement ring.

"Love all on Centre Court for Sampras and fiancee," said The Daily Telegraph.

Wilson, who was Miss Teen USA in 1990, has appeared in "Last Action Hero," "Mortal Kombat," and the soap opera "Santa Barbara."

Sampras said he and Wilson became engaged after he was upset in the first round of the French Open. He admitted he's ready to settle down and said the 26-year actress has changed him.

"I'm not so boring now," he said, cracking a smile.

"I am ready for the next chapter of my life to begin," he added. "My life will change a little bit. I am very happy and very excited."

Kournikova's coach looking for less attention
Eric van Harpen, the coach of Anna Kournikova, said the 19-year-old Russian's tennis could be suffering because of the intense interest in her looks.

Kournikova is reported to earn about $10 million in endorsements but has yet to win a tournament. She did win her first-round match Monday over Frenchwoman and No. 10 seed Sandrine Testud.

"I have trouble speaking to her when she is surrounded by fans," Van Harpen said. "It is very difficult to talk in a normal way with her. I have trouble speaking my mind when she is surrounded."

In addition to Wimbledon, Kournikova is also on display on 1,500 billboards around Britain modeling a sports bra.

"I would like to have less attention on her," Van Harpen said. "She is the focus all the time."

Lucic shapes up
Mirjana Lucic, a surprise semifinalist last year at Wimbledon, has had a disastrous season so far but could be making a comeback with new coach Harold Solomon.

The 18-year-old Croatian had won just one match in nine tournaments this year before overcoming Czech Denisa Chladkova 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the first round Monday.

She's hoping that the coach who resurrected the career of Jennifer Capriati can work the same magic on her.

"I've been putting too much pressure on myself and didn't do the work I was supposed to do," said Lucic, explaining her miserable tally of just four wins since reaching the semifinals here a year ago. "I relaxed a little and thought I could just show up and win matches.

"I didn't do things the right way. I'm not a lazy person, but I haven't had a really good coach with me. I'm a person who needs to be pushed and just needed the right advice."

Quadruple double
Former Wimbledon finalist Cedric Pioline lost a game Monday by double faulting on four straight points. Adding insult to injury he was called for a foot fault on the fourth point -- when his serve was in. Pioline still won, beating Christian Ruud of Norway 7-6 (4), 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.