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 Touch and go Chang barely advances to Japan Open second round
Posted: Tuesday April 13, 1999 11:26 AM
TOKYO (AP) -- With an imperial prince watching, ninth-seeded Michael Chang needed almost three hours to beat qualifier Michael Hill in an exchange of three tie-breakers at the Japan Open on Tuesday. Chang, who has fallen to a ranking of No. 40 from No. 2 in 1996, pounded out a 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-4) victory over his first-round opponent, the No. 211-ranked Australian playing his second year on the ATP Tour. The day's spectators at the wind-swept Ariake Colosseum included Prince Akishino, second son of the emperor, and his wife Princess Kiko. The 24-year-old Hill qualified only for the second time in his career into the main draw of an ATP tournament. He had several chances to win, especially in his service game in the final set. Hill was leading at 5-4 and 30-0 when the big server double-faulted twice. Chang then returned a serve into the net before scoring three straight points to take the crucial game. "I served well for three straight sets and I thought I also played quite well," said Hill, who had six aces compared to three for Chang. "I've been playing consistently in competing and practicing, and that seems to be coming together." Hill was the top player at California before joining the professional tour. In 1998 Hill won the Tiajuana Challenger, and he previously qualified, before Tokyo, for the Kroger St. Jude in Memphis in February. He is making his second trip to Japan, this time for his first appearance at the Japan Open. "Today I feel pretty fortunate to be able to win," Chang said. "I think in many aspects I should have lost today's match. "Michael was serving well for each of the three sets. So I feel pretty fortunate for still being in the tournament. In a sense, I kind of got a second chance in this tournament." Chang said Hill is a strong player. "Michael serves well and comes in and knocks off volleys," he said. "He's got a pretty dangerous forehands and he's making shots that can give you a hard time." Of his own game, Chang said, "I am trying every part of my play better and trying to have a positive attitude toward things. Certain things have changed in the past year because of an injury I had." Last year, Chang was the second seed here recovering from a knee injury, and reached the round of 16. He was the highest seed in action in the second day of the tournament. The top eight had first-round byes. They include No. 1 Richard Krajicek, second seed Andre Agassi, No. 3 Thomas Enqvist and fourth-seeded Thomas Johansson. Other first-round winners Tuesday included Japan's Hideki Kaneko, who beat Mark Knowles of the Bahamas 6-3, 6-4, John van Lottum of the Netherlands, a 6-2, 6-4 winner over Nicolas Escude of France, and Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic, who defeated American Jeff Tarango 7-5, 6-4. Among seeded players, No. 12 Sjeng Schalken of the Netherlands ousted Zimbabwe's Wayne Black 6-4, 6-1, and No. 14 Glanluca Pozzai of Italy defeated Rogier Waassen of the Netherlands 6-2, 6-3. In women's action, unseeded American Tu Meilen upset her sixth-seeded compatriot Meghann Shaughnessy 6-3, 7-5. In the second round, she will play wild card Shinobu Asagoe of Japan, a 6-3, 6-1 winner over American Linda Wild on Monday. "I have never seen Asagoe play, not singles, doubles or even in practice so it will be interesting," said Tu, who resides in Porter Ranch, California. "It is tough to play against a Japanese player here in Japan, as the crowds get behind them 200 percent." Also, Kerry-Anne Guse of Australia advanced to the second round by beating Laurence Andrette, France, 6-4, 6-3. In the second round, Guse meets second seed Amy Frazier of the United States.
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