DUESSELDORF, Germany -- Pete Sampras has never won the French Open nor even reached the final at the world's most important clay-court tournament.

	Sampras says critics should stop scratching their heads. "There is no reason I can't win on clay," he says.

But the dominant tennis player of the last decade -- with 12 Grand Slams and 62 tournament titles to his credit -- insists he does just fine on the red clay surface.

"I play well on clay," Sampras said after losing two of his three matches on the slow surface at the World Team Cup, an event at which he was hoping to improve his game for the French Open starting on Monday.

"I think you guys are barking up the wrong tree," he said, trying to shrug off suggestions by journalists the clay courts of Roland Garros were his jinx. He has failed to win the tournament in 10 attempts.

"We could sit and talk for two hours here and have a therapy session, but I don't think it would do me or you any good," Sampras said. "I really don't feel any less confident on clay."

Calling it an important confidence-boosting win, Sampras salvaged some pride by beating Sweden's Magnus Norman, the ATP Champions Race leader, at the World Team Cup on Thursday.

But by then the American had already lost on clay to Germany's Tommy Haas on Tuesday, 7-5, 6-2. Slovakia's Dominik Hrbaty upset Sampras in his opening match on Sunday 0-6, 6-4, 6-4.

"I lost a couple of matches. Let's not start panicking," Sampras said. "I know I can play well on clay. I'm not panicking or worrying too much. There is no reason I can't win on clay."

Sampras said he wants to break the record of 12 Grand Slam titles he shares with Australia's Roy Emerson, and end his drought in the French Open, the only Grand Slam event played on clay.

But he realizes those goals are getting harder each year as a new crop of hungry challengers arrives on tour.

"It's tougher to stay on top nowadays," Sampras said. "Ten years ago there were only two or three guys who got to the semifinals and finals all the time. Today there are different winners all the time. The top two or three aren't as dominant anymore."

Sampras said the French Open is probably the most demanding tournament in the current era because there is an ever-expanding number of talented clay-court players capable of winning.

"The French Open is the toughest slam to win," he said. "There are so many great clay-court players. There are 30 guys who can win the French Open. There are so many dangerous floaters who can knock off the seeds."

Sampras said he felt he was in good physical condition and that his chances were better than in a long time.

"I'll be tough to beat," he said. "Someone will have to play well to beat me. I'm looking forward to the challenge of not being a favorite."

Sampras made it clear retirement was not in his plans.

"I feel I can play the game for many, many years to come. I enjoy it, and will keep playing as long as I'm healthy and in contention for the majors," he said. "Right now, the thought of retirement is not part of my thinking."