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Chang advances at Sybase Open
Posted: Friday February 11, 2000 02:22 AM
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Michael Chang appears to have righted himself after a tough season. Chang, who fell to 50th in the world last year after reaching as high as No. 2 in 1996, defeated American Cecil Mamiit 6-2, 6-3 in the second round of the Sybase Open on Thursday night. "I was able to play smart tennis," said the fourth-seeded Chang. "I didn't get too excited and waited for my shots." Second-seeded Mark Philippoussis of Australia, the defending champion, also advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Haiti's Ronald Agenor, the oldest player in the tournament at age 35. Justin Gimelstob of the United States and Swedes Mikael Tillstrom and Magnus Larsson also won in the $350,000 ATP Tour event to advance to the quarterfinals. Mamiit upset Chang in the semifinals of last year's event -- and reached his first career final -- in the only other meeting between the two players. "It was a great thrill to beat him here last year, but it seems like he's back in rare form," Mamiit said. "He played great tennis. From the start of the first ball he was firing. He was all over the place." Chang did not reach the finals of any tournament last year for the first time since turning pro in 1987. "The last couple of years have been tough, but I believe in my heart there are better plans for the future," Chang said. "I'm not in the beginning of my career. I've got, hopefully, another five years left and I want to make the most of those five years. Every athlete wants to finish on a high note." Gimelstob beat Czech Republic's Tomas Zib, 6-4, 7-6 (4), Tillstrom defeated Armenia's Sargis Sargsian, 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4, and Larsson beat Australia's Mark Woodforde, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Chang and Philippoussis joined two other seeded players in the quarterfinals: No. 5 Jim Courier and No. 7 Wayne Ferreira.
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