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 Breezing ahead Chang advances in Hong Kong
Posted: Tuesday April 06, 1999 02:22 PM
HONG KONG (AP) -- Three-time winner Michael Chang of the United States blitzed Daniel Vacek of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-4 Tuesday to advance to the second round of the $350,000 Salem Open. Currently ranked 40 on the ATP world list, Chang said he was pleased with his performance against the 53rd-ranked Vacek. "These last few months have been hard. I have been stringing together losses instead of victories and it it hard to explain why. But sooner or later I hope things will turn around," said Chang, who is seeded eighth in the Hong Kong tournament. Chang lost in the first round last year, but on Tuesday there was never any doubt as to who would end triumphant. The American easily won the first set with two breaks of serve and then broke Vacek in he seventh game of the second set. Chang will meet Germany's Hendrik Dreekman in the second round. Dreekman defeated American Jeff Tarango 6-4, 6-4. Thai qualifier Paradorn Srichaphan continued his dream run with a 6-1, 7-6 (13-11) victory over fellow-qualifier Petr Luxa of the Czech Republic. The 19-year-old Srichaphan, who qualified for the first time in his career into the main draw of an ATP tournament, said he was already "guaranteed of my biggest paycheck." "I am thrilled and I hope to go on," he added. In another first-round match, German Oliver Gross defeated Hong Kong's Wayne Wong 6-3, 6-0. Top seed Richard Krajicek of the Netherlands and second seed Patrick Rafter of Australia play their first-round matches on Wednesday. American Andre Agassi, who entered the tournament as a wild card, will also play his first round match on Wednesday against Italian Gianluca Pozzi.
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