Chang Still Finding Success in Paris

Michael Chang, who won his only Grand Slam event in Paris, defeated French wild-card player Arnaud Di Pasquale, 6-2, 7-5, Monday in the first round of the $2.95-million Paris Masters.

Chang, playing in this tournament for the 12th consecutive year, had little trouble in the first set but then needed to rally from a 4-0 deficit in the second.

American Chris Woodruff also won his first match, defeating Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

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Conchita Martinez survived frequent errors and won the opening match of the $2-million Chase Championships tennis tournament at New York, defeating mistake-prone Elena Likhovtseva of Russia, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.

In the night match, Belgian teenager Kim Clijsters, who gained a spot in the season-ending Chase Championships when five higher-ranked players withdrew with injuries, overpowered fifth-seeded Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, 7-5, 6-4.

Golf

Tiger Woods wrapped up his second consecutive Vardon Trophy for low stroke average and set two records in the process.

Woods posted a record 67.79 adjusted stroke average, breaking his 1999 record of 68.43, the PGA of America announced. Woods also finished with an actual scoring average of 68.17, surpassing Byron Nelson’s 68.33 average from 1945 season.

The PGA of America named Jack Connelly as the golf association’s new president.

Miscellany

UCLA (12-6-0), which reached the national semifinals last season, will play at San Diego either Saturday or Sunday as first-round pairings for the NCAA men’s soccer playoffs were announced. Cal State Fullerton (15-5-1) will play Saturday night at third-seeded Stanford. . . . The UCLA women’s soccer team will host its third-round NCAA playoff match Sunday at 1 p.m. against Texas A&M; at Drake Stadium.

Sandra Schmitt, 19, a freestyle skiing world champion from Germany, was among the victims of the weekend cable car fire disaster in Austria that killed at least 159 people.

World Boxing Council middleweight champion Keith Holmes sued Don King Productions Inc. in U.S. District Court, alleging the promoter hadn’t set up enough fights for him.

Brazilian soccer star Romario injured his left thigh in practice and will miss Brazil’s 2002 World Cup qualifying game against Colombia on Wednesday.