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Comeback derailed

Chang upset by unknown in challenger event

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Posted: Saturday July 17, 1999 10:43 PM

Hard-court: Michael Chang's comeback was slowed down by Harel Levy's strong serve and powerful groundstrokes. AP

APTOS, Calif. (AP) - Michael Chang, once ranked as high as No. 2 in the world, was stunned by 241st-ranked Harel Levy 6-4, 6-3 Saturday afternoon in the $50,000 Safeway Challenger.

Chang was playing in his first tournament since the French Open nine weeks ago, in which he lost in the first round to Yevgeny Kafelnikov. He then missed Wimbledon and its associated warmup tournaments with a minor back strain.

Levy, a 20-year-old who still serves in the Israeli Army when he's not touring, broke Chang's serve in the opening game of the match. He used a strong serve and powerful ground strokes to put the set away, then broke serve for a 4-3 lead in the second set.

"Playing a guy like Chang, it's pretty exciting," Levy said. "I came in as the underdog with nothing to lose. I surprised myself at the beginning of the match when I was up 5-1. It went pretty easily then, but I knew it would be tough against a guy like Chang."

Levy broke Chang's serve again in the final game as Chang dumped a forehand into the net on match point.

Currently ranked No. 59, Chang entered the event to get a jump on the North American summer hardcourt season, which culminates with the U.S. Open in late August.

"Obviously, this is very difficult for me," Chang said after the defeat, which came in the first Challenger-level event he's played since 1987. "I'll have to fight through this. I have to keep pressing on. Hopefully sometime soon things will be picking up for me.

"It's pretty much a now-or-never situation. The longer it takes me to get back, the more urgent it becomes."

He was not completely crushed by the loss, noting that he was happy to get past the second round, something he has done only once this year in 14 tournaments.

"Its day-to-day," Chang said of his tennis state of mind. "I think this is too much for me to look at as a whole right now. The Lord has a plan for me and I will keep trying to do my best."

Levy will take on Australian Michael Hill in Sunday's final. Hill defeated fourth-seeded Laurence Tieleman, who retired with a pulled thigh muscle with Hill leading 6-4, 6-7 (7-2), 1-0.

Hill was also the beneficiary of Cecil Mamiits' third-set retirement in the second round. Mamiit was the No. 2 seed and defending singles champion of the USTA-sanctioned event.

 

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