Chang Remains Calm in the Face of a Storm

To those who complain that professional tennis players lack personality, we offer Marc Rosset. Those who think tennis players are plenty vibrant will always have Michael Chang.

Thursday’s third-round match at the Newsweek Champions Cup between those two players tortured just about every metaphor for contrasts: Chang’s style defines steady; Rosset is politely referred to as erratic. Chang’s emotions exist but are called on infrequently on court; the tempestuous Rosset is fueled by feelings. Chang is a counterpuncher; Rosset goes for the knockout. Chang is 5 feet 9; Rosset is 6-7.

Chang won; Rosset lost.

Chang, the defending champion, showed he has no problem adjusting to the dry air or bouncy balls or desert heat, or, for that matter, Rosset. Chang advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 7-5 victory at the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort. Chang’s comfort level here is mounting: He’s 24-6 overall at this tournament.

Rosset, the 1990 Olympic champion, was a threat throughout the match. Regrettably for the Swiss player, he’s often a threat to himself. His cannon forehand and powerful first serve are a slave to whatever emotional peak or trough he’s in at the moment. Across the net, Chang, seeded third, coolly dealt with Rosset’s pinpoint winners and his netted shots: The 13th-seeded Rosset committed twice as many unforced errors as Chang, a statistic that would shock no one.

Rosset is a tortured genius and always an entertaining player. He’s one of the great mutterers on the men’s tour, it’s fun to watch him lumber around the court and he’s not above the occasionally self-deprecating gesture. Trailing, 4-1, in the first set, Rosset managed to hold his serve and raised his arms in mock triumph. The tousled-haired blond also has a disinclination to wearing shoes.

His iconoclasm can be admirable. Asked to carry the Swiss flag at the opening ceremony at the Atlanta Olympics, Rosset declined, saying he’d look goofy in the traditional lederhosen officials insisted he wear.

Chang is less quirky. His renowned ability to solve problems on the court has sustained him during a week in which 13 seeded players have bailed out of the tournament. Most have spoken ruefully about the dry desert air causing the balls to fly off the court, but Chang identifies a problem and quickly adjusts.

“I think that’s part of being a professional,” he said. “Generally speaking, everybody has to deal with the same situations. If some guy is playing in a controlled environment and I have to play under fluctuating conditions, I’m going to complain a little bit. But everyone’s in the same boat.”

Some players manage to keep their ship afloat better than others. Rosset self-destructed in the second set when his serve unraveled. He got in only 48% of his first serves, a fatal failing for Rosset. Meanwhile, Chang was serving well. He out-aced Rosset, 6-3.

“The problem is, he gets himself out of trouble with his big serve too,” Chang said. “He relies heavily on his first serve and also hitting big forehands. Obviously, he’s got to go for his shots. If he’s going to miss them, he’s going to get himself in a little bit of trouble.”

Rosset lost the match on his serve. Chang needed three match points to take the set and the match.

The other seeded player to lose Thursday was No. 8 Carlos Moya of Spain. Hard-serving Mark Philippoussis of Australia defeated Moya, 6-4, 6-3. Second-seeded Thomas Muster of Austria defeated Slava Dosedel of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-4, and 14th-seeded Alberto Berasategui of Spain advanced with a 7-6 (8-6), 6-3 victory over Jonathan Stark of Seattle.

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Court in Session

Today’s featured matches in the State Farm Evert Cup (women) and Newsweek Champions Cup (men) tennis tournaments at the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort. Seedings in parenthesis:

DAY SESSION STARTING AT 10

Stadium Court--Mark Philippoussis vs. Thomas Muster (2); Alberto Berasategui (14) vs. Jonas Bjorkman; Lindsay Davenport (4) vs. Mary Joe Fernandez (9); Bohdan Ulihrach vs. Byron Black.

Clubhouse Court--Mark Knowles/Daniel Nestor (6) vs. Marc Goellner/Byron Talbot; Gigi Fernandez/Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (1) vs. Lisa Raynmond/Nathalie Tauziat (4); Philippoussis/Patrick Rafter vs. Sebastien Lareau/Alex O’Brien (5); Bjorkman/Nicklas Kulti (7) vs. Scott Davis/Kelly Jones.

NIGHT SESSION STARTING AT 10

Cedric Pioline vs. Michael Chang (3); Todd Woodbridge/Mark Woodforde (1) or Neil Broad/Piet Norval vs. Rick Leach/Johnathan Stark (8).