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'Feeling good' Chang advances to meet Norman in Heineken final
Posted: Friday January 14, 2000 11:40 AM
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) -- Crowd favorite Michael Chang of the United States will play tournament second seed Magnus Norman in Saturday's final of the Auckland Open tennis tournament. Norman, 23, and ranked 15th at the end of last year, played solid all-round tennis to dismiss Argentinean newcomer Gaston Gaudio -- playing his first ATP tour semifinal -- 6-4, 7-5 Friday. Chang, having been involved in a dramatic semifinal win over Magnus Gustafsson who withdrew with a knee injury late Thursday night at the start of the third set, again had to endure a three-set result. He battled against a tired Juan Balcells of Spain, who was playing his seventh match in seven days, to win 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. Chang has played Norman once before -- at Shanghai last year -- where Norman won the semifinal 0-6, 6-4, 6-2 before going on win the final against 1998 Auckland champion Marcelo Rios. Norman, who won five titles last year, said he expected the patient Gaudio to chase down every ball on court. "That was the toughest game I played this week," Norman said. "I would be surprised if he [Gaudio] is not in the top-30 by the end of this year. "He turned out to be everything I expected him to be in this game. He will be a very good player." Chang said Balcells has a bright future. "You don't see too many players of that kind of style, I think Juan has the charisma to go with it," Chang said. "He plays to the crowd, he makes them smile and laugh, and he hits great shots all the time. I think in a many, many ways he is like Yannick [Noah] or even Kareem Alami [Morocco]." Chang said he felt he had a chance against Norman but would have to make sure he utilized every opportunity. "I think it will be important for me to play solid tomorrow," he said. I have to take advantage of the times I get openings and make most of them as well as hit the shots that I need to hit," Chang said. "I don't think Magnus will give me any free points, he is playing well, he has a good first serve and forehand. "I need to be able to work around those things and set up my points well." He said he felt a victory on Saturday was a realistic possibility.
"I think I definitely have a chance, I am excited to be in a final again, it has been a while and I am feeling good."
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