Chang Reaches Semifinals at Wembley

WEMBLEY, England — Michael Chang’s speed and shot selection wore down Andrei Chesnokov in a battle of base liners today as the 17-year-old American won 6-3, 6-4 to reach the semifinals of the $440,000 Wembley indoor championships.

In a match of 12 service breaks and several spectacular rallies, Chesnokov rallied from 1-3 to 3-3 in both sets but lost the initiative each time.

If he’d made fewer errors and had been more adventurous, the Soviet Union’s top player might have won, and the second-seeded Chang of Placentia, Calif., knew it.

“I mixed things up and kept him thinking, and that helped,” Chang said. “Against a player like Andrei, you have to choose your shots wisely.”

While one American made the last four of this Super Series event, another went down. Robert Seguso lost 7-5, 6-3 to Frenchman Guy Forget.

Top-seeded John McEnroe was to meet Miloslav Mecir in an evening quarterfinal, followed by Brad Gilbert against Wally Masur.