PRO TENNIS IN MEMPHIS : Top-Seeded Edberg Ousted by South African Muller

Top-seeded Stefan Edberg became the latest upset victim at the Volvo Indoor tennis tournament Wednesday night as unheralded Gary Muller stopped the world’s No. 3 player, 6-1, 7-5.

Muller kept Edberg pinned to the baseline for most of the night as he used a low-bouncing serve and an assortment of strong passing shots to post the most impressive victory of his seven-year professional career.

“I felt confident going into the match,” Muller said. “I actually felt like I had a good chance.”

The second-round match with Muller was the first for Edberg since a stomach injury forced him to retire in the finals of the Australian Open.

“I knew I would have a problem,” Edberg said. “I haven’t played that well (in practice) since Australia.

“The problem is not really hitting the ball. It’s getting to it and then putting something into it.

“Muller was on tonight. He played good tennis. he took advantage of my mistakes. That’s why he won.”

Muller said the key to his victory was putting constant pressure on Edberg.

“He wasn’t able to gain any confidence early,” Muller said. “I served fairly well and I didn’t make any stupid errors. I kept my game together.”

Muller built a 5-0 lead before closing out the opening set with an ace.

After trading service breaks with Edberg in the second set, the South African regained the edge in the 11th game when Edberg followed his serve to the net and then was unable to push a backhand into play, putting Muller up, 6-5.

Muller served out the match at love, grabbing the victory when Edberg netted a running forehand.

Edberg’s loss left third-seeded Andrei Chesnokov as the highest-seeded player left in the tournament.

Michael Chang, the No. 2 seed, was bumped from the tournament on Tuesday night by Glenn Layendecker.

Chesnokov survived a brief first-set rally by Roger Smith before settling down for a 6-4, 6-4 victory.

“I think I played my best game this year,” said Chesnokov, ranked 19th in the world. “I had a good (service) return and I feel perfect.”

In other matches, seventh-seeded Marcelo Filippini of Uruguay defeated Brian Page, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3); West Germany’s Michael Stich topped New Zealand’s Kelly Evernden, 6-1, 6-2; qualifier Danie Visser eliminated No. 9 Paul Annacone, 7-5, 6-7 (7-9), 6-4; and No. 12 Richey Reneberg beat Ken Flack, 6-3, 6-2.

Malivai Washington, a former University of Michigan All-American, defeated fifth-seeded Christo Van Rensburg, 6-4, 6-4, and Wally Masur of Australia topped Uruguay’s Diego Perez, 6-2, 6-3.

Australian Darren Cahill had been worrying that his game was falling apart, but he put enough of the pieces together to top Tim Wilkison, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-0), 7-5.

“I haven’t been playing well lately and to get out of a match like that has to be helpful,” Cahill said after his three-hour battle with Wilkison.