TENNIS : Chang, Stich to Play for $2-Million Prize

Michael Chang beat Goran Ivanisevic, and Michael Stich won three tiebreakers Saturday against Pete Sampras to reach the final of the Grand Slam Cup.

Chang outlasted Ivanisevic, 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, and Stich beat third-seeded Sampras, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), in the semifinals of the world’s richest tennis tournament. The winner gets $2 million from a $6-million purse, the loser $1 million.

Stich, who has fallen from No. 4 to No. 15 in the world, said he felt fortunate to beat third-ranked Sampras.

“It could have gone the other way as well,” Stich said. “I made the big points in the tiebreakers.”

Ivanisevic blasted 25 aces to become the first player to surpass 1,000 in a season, bringing his total to 1,017. But he also served 19 double-faults, effectively wiping out his most effective weapon.

Chang wasted five match points and saved three break points while serving for the match. He finally scored with a service winner, clinching the match that lasted 3 hours 38 minutes.

Chang, the youngest of the four semifinalists at 20, could not match Ivanisevic’s power. But his steadier game at the end prevailed over the erratic Croatian, who was penalized a point after an earlier warning following several outbursts.

The penalty point gave advantage to Chang, who held for a 5-2 lead in the final set. Ivanisevic had wasted two break points in that game and was penalized after Chang hit a serve that was ruled good, although Ivanisevic said it had been wide. He threw his racket so hard that it bounced across the net.