PARIS, May 30: Fifth-seed Thomas Muster, the 1995 champion and one of the most feared players in the world on a clay-court, was sent packing from the French Open here today by 20-year-old Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten.

The South American, who scored a thrilling 6-7 (3/7), 6-1, 6-3, 3-6 6-4 win after trailing 0-3 in the fifth set, now plays Andrei Medvedev of the Ukraine.

Medvedev earlier beat Nicolas Escude of France 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 6-3.

Kuerten had beaten Muster once before -- in doubles... and in controversial circumstances.

He was partnering Jaime Oncins in the notorious Davis Cup clash against Austria in an explosive 1996 world group clash which ended with Muster, who was alongside Udo Plamberger, storming off court after receiving death threats and being spat on by the crowd. Muster's protest led to Austria being disqualified.

There were no threats or incidents in today's match, played on a sweltering number-one showcourt where fierce sunshine sent temperatures soaring and left both players close to exhaustion after their three-hour marathon.

Both players gave everything they had, and after finally surrendering the 29-year-old Muster didn't hide his disappointment.

``I should have won that fifth set but I didn't take my chances,'' said Muster.

Muster who has won 44 tournaments -- 40 of them on clay -- admitted that he had had a poor season by his own high standards with only five wins in his last six tournaments.

Elsewhere qualifier Filip Dewulf of Belgium came through a tremendous battle against Spain's Albert Portas on a packed outside court which had the spectators roaring throughout.

The 25-year-old Dewulf scored a 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-7 (6/8) 8-6 and now plays either Spain's eighth seed Alex Corretja or French wildcard entry Thierry Champion.

In the women's singles, defending champion Steffi Graf and the player she prefers to avoid, Amanda Coetzer, moved one step closer to a possible quarter-final showdown.

Coetzer produced an impressive 6-4, 6-2 win over Meike Babel of Germany while Graf settled down after a tough first set to beat Spain's 18-year-old Magui Serna 7-6 (7/4), 6-1.

The second-seeded Graf now plays either 13th seed Irina Spirlea of Romania or another Spaniard Virginia Ruano-Pascual, while Coetzer faces seventh-seed Conchita Martinez who beat France's Caroline Dhenin 6-2, 6-1.

If both Graf and Coetzer win, they will play each other for a fourth time this season -- Coetzer having beaten the former world number-one in Australia and Berlin while Graf snatched a narrow victory over the South African at Strasbourg last week.

In other women's matches Karina Habsudova of Slovakia became the second seed to go out when she went down to Ruxandra Dragomir of Romania 6-3 6-2.Dragomir now faces one of the title favourites -- fourth-seed Jan Novotna.RESULTS

(Prefix number denotes seeding)

MEN'S (third round): 15-Marc Rosset (Switzerland) beat Lionel Roux (France) 6-3 5-7 6-2 6-3; Gustavo Kuerten (Brazil) beat 5-Thomas Muster (Austria) 6-7 (3-7) 6-1 6-3 3-6 6-4; Andrei Medvedev (Ukraine) beat Nicolas Escude (France) 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 6-3

WOMEN'S (third round): 11-Amanda Coetzer (South Africa) beat Meike Babel (Germany) 6-4 6-2; Ruxandra Dragomir (Romania) beat 15-Karina Habsudova (Slovakia) 6-3 6-2.Paes-Bhupathi advance

The Indian duo of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi entered the second round of the doubles in the French Open tennis defeating Dave Randall and Jack Waite of the United States 6-2, 6-2 at the Roland Garros yesterday.

The duo, who are ranked 16 on the ATP list, face Sander Groen and Jan Siemerink of the Netherlands in the second round.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.