BRIEFLY SAMPRAS' PLAY SUFFERING ON CLAY.

Byline: - Daily News Staff and Wire Services

Pete Sampras, trying to find his clay-court game for the French Open, was beaten 7-6 (7-0), 7-5 by Marat Safin at the World Team Cup in Duesseldorf, Germany.

Russia defeated the United States 3-0 in the eight-nation, round-robin tournament. This is the final tuneup before Monday's start of the French Open, the only Grand Slam event Sampras has not won. He made early exits at important clay-court tournaments at Rome and Hamburg.

The United States, Russia, Argentina and France all have 1-1 records in the Red Group in the $2.1 million German event.

--Chanda Rubin, who twice reached the quarterfinals of the French Open, pulled out of the Grand Slam event because of a knee injury. She will be replaced in by fellow American Alexandra Stevenson.

Another American, Corina Morariu, also has withdrawn. On Monday, Morariu's agent said the player has been diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia and was being treated in Florida.

--USC and Eagle Rock High product Cecil Mamiit defeated Dennis van Scheppingen 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the first round of French Open qualifying.

SOCCER: A French court sentenced German soccer fan Markus Warnecke, 30, to five years in prison for his part in the near-fatal beating of a French policeman during the 1998 World Cup.

The court in Pas-de-Calais in northern France also banned him from entering French territory for 10 years and prohibited him from entering any sports facilities for five years.

GOLF: UCLA was in the lead for much of the day at the NCAA Division I women's golf tournament at Mission Inn Resort in Howey-in-the-hills, Fla., but slipped near the end of its round and stands at 295, led by opening-day medalist Laura Moffat's 69. Oklahoma State leads with a 293.

USC (296) is in third place and Stanford, Georgia and Texas are tied at 298. Duke is tied with Pepperdine at 299.

BASEBALL: Cal State Northridge shortstop J.T. Stotts, designated hitter Robert Smith and first baseman Tim Arroyo were named to the All-Big West Conference first team. Pitchers Mike Frick and Bill Murphy were selected to the conference's second team and catcher Jason Allec, left-hander Andy Davidson and outfielder Adam Nikolic were honorable-mention selections.

FOOTBALL: Antelope Valley High quarterback/defensive back Demetre Booker has made an oral committment to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.