TENNIS / FRENCH OPEN : Agassi Reaches Quarterfinals; So Do Chang, Becker, Hlasek

It has been a rollicking first week for Andre Agassi, tourist, who got down to business in the fourth round of the French Open Sunday after feeling so, well, magnifique about the whole experience being in Paris.

Could it be that tall thing, as Agassi might call the Eiffel Tower, is inspiring him in this French Open?

“Well, I’m reluctant to think about it because I want to keep it going,” Agassi said after dusting off Alberto Mancini, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1. “I think the atmosphere, the people, clay, being in Paris close to the Eiffel Tower, it’s different than most places.”

Agassi acknowledged that since he has been here, he has not yet visited a museum--the Louvre, for example--although Burger King and McDonald’s on the Champs Elysees have become regular parts of his experience.

The sun shone brightly Sunday, and a light breeze shooed away the smog. From high in the stands of Court Central at Stade Roland Garros, the top of the Agassi’s favorite landmark, the Eiffel Tower, was clearly visible.

Now in sight is an upcoming quarterfinal encounter with Jakob Hlasek of Switzerland, who went five sets with qualifier Christian Miniussi of Argentina before pulling out a 4-6, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 victory.

Said Hlasek: “I am happy to win.”

Another man of simple words was Boris Becker, the second-seeded player, who moved into a quarterfinal matchup against Michael Chang with a 7-6 (8-6), 6-4, 6-3 victory over Francisco Clavet.

The four other quarterfinalists were to be decided today.

Becker played with a wrap around his injured right thigh and was treated by a trainer just before breaking Clavet for a 5-3 lead in the final set.

Chang had other problems. He was required to contend with being the crowd’s second choice for the second time in a row. He followed up Friday’s victory over crowd favorite Jimmy Connors with a 6-1, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Guy Forget of France.

The key to Chang’s victory was when he led, 4-1, in the fourth set, but trailed, 0-40, on his serve. An umpire’s overrule had taken away a point from Chang, who reacted in a most unexpected manner.

Chang served three consecutive aces and had five in the game to hold serve.

“I don’t know, maybe I just wanted to do a Boris Becker, go down 0-40 and serve three aces,” Chang said.

Agassi could have sent Mancini out in three sets when he led by two sets and a break at 2-0, then 4-3 in the third set.

But Agassi’s concentration wavered slightly and Mancini escaped into a fourth set to try to send additional convoys of topspin across the net in Agassi’s direction.

There would be no further comeback for Mancini, who had defeated Agassi on clay in the Italian Open final in 1989. After worrying about how soon his game would come around after a disappointing start to the year, it seems that all Agassi needed to do was win a few rounds here.

“It isn’t unusual for me or for anybody if they’re a confidence player,” Agassi said. “There’s just something about playing here that makes me rise to another level.”