In Brief : Teen to Open Davis Cup Play for U.S.

The youngest player in more than 60 years to be named to the U.S. Davis Cup team, 16-year-old Michael Chang, will represent the United States in its first-round match against Paraguay, scheduled for Feb. 3-5 in Ft. Myers, Fla.

Chang, of Hoboken, N.J., will play singles along with fellow teen Andre Agassi, 18, of Las Vegas. The veteran tandem of Ken Flach and Robert Seguso, undefeated in Davis Cup doubles competition, round out the squad.

At 16 years, 7 months, the youngest male to ever capture a Super Series event with his recent win at the 1988 Transamerica Open, Chang has been touted by some tennis experts as the hope and future of American tennis.

“We felt that playing an opponent like Paraguay would give us a chance to look at a great young player without having undue pressure on him to win, “ U.S. team captain Tom Gorman explained.

Selected as the 1988 Tennis Magazine Rookie of the Year, Chang is looking forward to his Davis Cup debut. “This achievement is what makes all the hours of preparation worthwhile,” he said.