On the Line arrived on the spot today for our week-long coverage of the Tennis Masters Series ? Toronto. With showers throughout the Toronto area, the would-be singles qualifiers were fortunate to complete their matches under threatening skies before the rain finally descended on the National Tennis Centre courts.

Many fans come to qualifying to see the stars hone their games on the practice courts, an activity which was also perturbed by the rain. We did catch a spirited hitting session involving superstars Andre Agassi (shirtless of course, and in my opinion a teensy bit heavier than he was at this time last year) and French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten. Unfortunately for the fans this was on a practice court inaccessible to the ticket-holders.

Two injury withdrawals changed the draw slightly. Alex Corretja will be unable to play this week, and we will also be deprived of the top-ranked Moroccan, Younes El Aynaoui. Corretja was to be seeded 9th, so this promotes Nicolas Escudé to 17th seed.

Pete meets the press

Pete Sampras is also on the scene, and met with the press. The Wimbledon champion pronounced himself fit and ready to play after recovering from an injured shin. "I didn't pick up a racquet for two weeks," said the man who has won more major titles than anyone in the sport's history. "I started hitting last Monday, and decided that if I woke up sore on Wednesday, I wouldn't try to play here. I got here on Friday and have been practicing hard with no pain."

Unshaven and appearing relaxed, the second seed sounded upbeat about the summer hard court season. "After grass, I look forward to the hard courts. We'll play a lot more baseline points and there's more time to return and pass. That's an easy adjustment for me to make. I've had a good break and now I am looking forward to the US Open. And this one, too," added Sampras about the Canadian tournament which he often skips. "This is one that I've never won."

Finally, Pistol Pete did not express any hard feelings about John McEnroe's bitter comments about Sampras's absence from the USA's losing Davis Cup tie in Spain last weekend. "After the loss he was disappointed," explained Sampras about the Davis Cup captain's outspoken remarks. "John says things," said Sampras, who appeared ready to elaborate but then thought better of it and repeated, "He says things?."

Here are your qualifiers:

Jonas Bjorkman (1) (def. Lionel Roux, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3)

Bjorkman qualifies despite some serious wobbles. Not only did the Swede drop a set to Roux, he more tellingly lost the first set to Canadian junior Peter Richman in yesterday's first round of qualifying before closing out the local prospect. Bjorkman-Roux was a pleasing match on centre court. Neither player is overpowering, and both men like to use the whole court, so there were some good rallies as well as net play. Bjorkman will probably have to avoid the lulls he experienced this weekend, however, if he is to beat his first round opponent in the main draw, 8th seed Marat Safin.

David Wheaton (16) (def. Martin Damm (2), 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 6-4)

A nice win for the American veteran, on the comeback trail after a series of injuries. But Damm doesn't mind, as he is in the main draw as well, as a "lucky loser". Both players will have winnable first-round matches: Wheaton plays Canadian wild card Simon Larose, while Damm plays qualifier Harel Levy.

Paradorn Srichaphan (3) (def. Mark Knowles (14), 6-4, 6-2)

The 20-year-old Thai flash Srichaphan is a great talent, tipped by many of his fellow pros -- among them Ronald Agenor, who beat Srichaphan in a Challenger final earlier this year ? as a future star. He used his booming serve, long, flowing groundstrokes and big forehand to subdue doubles specialist Knowles today. Knowles was charging the net repeatedly, but seemed unable to read the Thai's passing shots. Muttering to himself after one forehand blast whizzed by him in the first set, the demonstr ative Knowles supplied his own explanation: "Who was the jackass who told me he passes cross-court? He goes up the line every single time!" Paradorn will test his passing shots against Chris Woodruff, who is having a tough year, in the first round.

Cyril Saulnier (4) (def. Diego Ayala, 6-4, 6-4)

Late-blooming Frenchman Saulnier has drawn clay-court specialist Emilio Alvarez of Spain for his first-round match.

Cecil Mamiit (5) (def. Phil Gubenco, 6-2, 6-0)

The speedy Mamiit will go up against another quick-footed little fellow, Sébastien Grosjean, in round one.

Michael Llodra (5) (def. Neville Godwin, 6-3, 6-2)

Llodra, a promising 20-year-old French espoir, drew the short straw and will play second seed Pete Sampras in the first round. It will be their second meeting of the season, as they had crossed paths on grass at Queen's Club in June, resulting in a straight-set Sampras win.

Harel Levy (7) (def. James Sekulov (9), 1-6, 6-3, 6-1)

Levy, a mainstay of Israel's Davis Cup squad, will play "lucky loser" Martin Damm in his first round match.

Peter Tramacchi (def. Arvind Parmar (8), 6-2, 6-1)

A surprising qualification for Aussie veteran Tramacchi, who is perhaps best known for being a frequent practice partner of his more famous countryman Patrick Rafter. Englishman Parmar is perhaps still reeling from the shock of losing a deciding Davis Cup match to Giovanni Lappentti, Nicolas's 17-year-old brother, in London earlier this month. Parmar is in the main draw anyway, as a lucky loser, and will face Rafter in the first round. Tramacchi will go against Karim Alami.

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