MEN’S TENNIS : Chang Defeats Flu, Filippini

Ninth-seeded Michael Chang cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Italy’s Marcelo Filippini on Monday in the opening round of the $1-million Champions Cup.

Chang needed only 76 minutes to eliminate Filippini despite being hampered by a touch of flu.

“The match could have gone either way,” Chang said. “He has the same type of style I do. I was able to take advantage of the shots more than he.”

Neither Stefan Edberg of Sweden, ranked No. 1 in the world and seeded first in the tournament, nor second-seeded Andre Agassi played Monday. Edberg faces Martin Jaite of Argentina in a second-round match today at the Hyatt Grand Champions resort.

Jaite advanced by beating David Wheaton, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4.

Other first-round winners were 10th-seeded Andrei Cherkasov, No. 11 Michael Stich of Germany, No. 13 Alexander Volkov of the Soviet Union, No. 14 Marc Rosset of Switzerland and No. 16 Jim Courier.