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Chang advances Unseeded American improving play on grass
Posted: Tuesday June 27, 2000 10:39 AM
LONDON (Reuters) -- Former French Open champion Michael Chang, enjoying a good run on grass, swept past Argentine Gaston Gaudio 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 on Tuesday to earn a place in the second round of Wimbledon. Chang -- who withdrew from last year's tournament because of a back injury -- said his form was "pretty good" and he was looking forward to the rest of the championships. "The last couple of tournaments on grass were great for me, and hopefully things will go great for me here," he said. Chang charmed the court four crowd -- including U.S. crooner Tony Bennett -- by playing a mixture of baseline and serve and volley tennis. After a rough ride on the green surfaces of Wimbledon -- he has not progressed past the second round here since 1994 -- Chang reached the semifinals of both the Halle and the 's-Hertogenbosch tournaments this month. "I think it has been a kind of process. I have worked on my serve, on the volleys over the years but this year I have been able to put things together a bit more," he said. Chang will now play towering German Alexander Popp, who beat Ronald Agenor of Haiti 0-6, 7-5, 7-6, 6-2. At more than two metres tall, Popp has 26 centimetres height advantage over the diminutive American.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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