Chang Draws Leadoff Spot for U.S. in Davis Cup

This Davis Cup was supposed to be a low-pressure, easing-in experience for 16-year-old Michael Chang of Placentia, but Thursday’s draw might have turned up the heat a bit.

Chang’s name was drawn out of the cup first in the formal proceedings at center court at the Sonesta Sanibel Harbour Resort, and that means he will play the first match today for the United States against Paraguay.

The next name drawn was that of Victor Pecci, the veteran whose efforts got Paraguay into Davis Cup competition for the first time in 1982 and who has won 28 Davis Cup matches since then. Pecci, now 33, won his first Davis Cup match just about the time Chang turned 10 years old.

That first draw means U.S. star Andre Agassi, the No. 3-ranked player in the world, will play Hugo Chapacu in the second match Friday. After that, Ken Flach and Robert Seguso will play Pecci and Francisco Gonzalez in Saturday’s doubles.

When they drew the order of play for Sunday’s wrap-up matches, Chang again got the hot spot, drawing the first match. Were the U.S. team to lose 2 of the first 3 matches, Chang would have to win the opener Sunday to get the anchor baton into Agassi’s hands for his finale against Pecci.

For Chang, that kind of situation could turn out to be similar to--or even tougher than--that which Jimmy Arias faced in his memorable 1987 loss to Chapacu. The Paraguayan opponent, and all that goes with his now legendary win over Arias, would be the same Hugo Chapacu.

Still, U.S. Captain Tom Gorman, saw pluses in the way the draw went.

“I know it sounds like a cliche, but we have to play all 5 matches, so what order they come in isn’t that vital,” Gorman said.

“Plus, it helps that Michael knows he plays first, and that he knows it is right at 11 a.m. Sometimes, sitting around waiting for that first match to end can be maddening.”

The U.S. team is heavily favored to win.

But as Pecci said here Thursday, “They were heavily favored in ’87 in Paraguay, too.”