Rafter Dumps Chang U.S. Open Final Will Be Battle Between No. 13 Seed And Unseeded Rusedski

Since capturing his sole Grand Slam title eight years ago as a dimpled teen, Michael Chang has been dogged by the question of when he would win a second.

The answer came hard, like a punch in the stomach, at the U.S. Open on Saturday.

Not this year. Maybe never.

The second-ranked Chang, 25 years old and running out of time in the game, knew he had the chance of a lifetime to win his first U.S. Open with Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and other top players gone from the tournament.

But that chance disappeared in the twilight in Arthur Ashe Stadium when No. 13 Patrick Rafter, who had knocked out Agassi, did the same to Chang, the 1989 French Open champ, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.

“I have to hope that perseverance will pay off one day,” Chang said optimistically, the disappointment of his lost opportunity obvious in his voice and eyes. “It wasn’t meant to be. I’ll keep working on it. Today is Patrick’s day.”

In one of the most unlikely finals in Grand Slam history, Rafter will meet unseeded Greg Rusedski today for the U.S. Open title and the $650,000 check that goes with it. A year ago, each of them lost in the first round. Between them they won only one tournament this year.

“There will be a lot of pressure on both of us because we’ve never been in this situation before,” said the 24-year-old Rafter, the first Australian in the final since Ken Rosewall lost to Jimmy Connors in 1974. “It’ll be a bit of nerves. Who handles it better will be the winner. Win or lose it will be sweet - a little sweeter if I win.”

Rafter’s fast, powerful and acrobatic serve-and-volley style overwhelmed Chang, who simply couldn’t break his serve despite eight break opportunities. Chang looked sluggish after playing back-to-back five setters, but even on his best days he would have trouble with the way Rafter played.

“It was one of those days when everything worked for me,” Rafter said. “It’s hard to explain. You never expect to beat Michael 3-3-4.”

Rusedski, winless at the U.S. Open before this year, gave his adopted nation a small respite from mourning as he cracked serves at up to 142 mph to become the tournament’s first British men’s finalist in 61 years.

His shirt adorned with a black ribbon for Princess Diana, Rusedski watched her funeral before playing the biggest match of his career on his 24th birthday, then battled a throat infection to beat Jonas Bjorkman 6-1, 3-6, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.

“I hope I’ve provided a little bit of a lift, but the tragedy with Princess Diana is so sad there’s no comparison between the two,” said Rusedski.”I’m just proud I can put a smile on some people’s face because of the tennis.”

In trying to duplicate Agassi’s 1994 run to the title from an unseeded spot, the Canadian-born Rusedski has shocked himself and everyone else who remembers him getting knocked out of the U.S. Open in the first round the past three years. His accomplishment was magnified by the fact that no British player had reached the final of the U.S. Open since Fred Perry won in 1936. John Lloyd was the last Brit in any Grand Slam final, at the 1977 Australian Open.