AUSTRALIAN OPEN NOTES : Men’s Round of 16 Has an American Look

Michael Chang advanced to the Australian Open quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory today over Olivier Delaitre of France, landing eight American men into the final 16.

Chang’s relatively easy course to the quarterfinals has meant he is not as tired as other players who have been extended to five sets and affected by the heat.

“It’s been a great first week for me,” said Chang, the fifth-seeded player. “I still feel very fresh and I don’t feel tired or fatigued. For me, that is very good. I feel very good mentally and physically. I think, as far as going into next week, I’m hoping that I’ll be able to step up a level as far as my tennis is concerned, because the matches will get more difficult and I think I’m going to have to play even better.”

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Patrick Rafter beat Marcos Ondruska on Saturday night, 6-3, 1-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, and remained the only Australian left in the tournament. The 22-year-old plays with tremendous crowd support, and against the South African, it played a major role.

“It really started getting to him in the fourth and fifth sets,” Rafter said. “The more hacked off he got, the more they cheered, and he was very disappointed at the end of it, which is understandable. But the crowd is just amazing out there, and I’ve got to try and suck it all in and use it as positive energy.”

He will need it. Rafter plays Andre Agassi on Monday night.

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Second-seeded Conchita Martinez defeated Irina Spirlea, 6-2, 6-7 (7-3), 6-2. Fourth-seeded Mary Pierce defeated 10th-seeded Anke Huber, 6-2, 6-4. Eighth-seeded Natasha Zvereva defeated Kyoko Nagatsuka, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. . . . Asked why she changed her name from Natalia, Zvereva said: “I thought it would be nice for a change. I change my hair, change my name, change my. . . . I don’t know. It’s something exciting.”