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Chang wins in Auckland
Posted: Monday January 10, 2000 12:41 PM
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) -- Michael Chang survived a long first-round match against Zimbabwe's Byron Black today, winning 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7-1) at the Auckland Open men's tennis tournament. Chang and Black, ranked 50th and 65th in the world, received a standing ovation from a near-sellout first-day crowd after a 2-hour, 20-minute match. Earlier in the day, Argentina's Gaston Gaudio also survived a three-set match to down Armenia's Sargis Sargisian 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 in the first match of the tournament. New Zealand's only direct entry into the main draw -- wild-card Mark Nielsen -- bowed out to 1994 champion Magnus Gustafsson of Sweden, 6-4, 6-4. Chang said the Rebound Ace court surface, similar to that at the Australian Open at Melbourne that follows the Auckland tournament, was ideal. "I did a bit of research, and Kelly Evernden (former New Zealand No. 1), who works at my club in Seattle, told me to come here," Chang said. "Players who have come here in the past have gone on to do really well at the Australian Open, so I thought for a change I would come down here and I hope it works."
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