Chang Defeats Stafford For Clay Court Championship

Top-seeded Michael Chang overcame a slow start to beat South Africa’s Grant Stafford 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 Sunday for the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships title in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

To win his fourth title of the year and the 30th of his career, Chang had to withstand a spirited early effort from the 25-year-old Stafford.

The unseeded South African, who eliminated eighth-seeded Australian Sandon Stolle, defending champion Fernando Meligeni of Brazil and sixth-seeded American Chris Woodruff en route to the final, matched Chang shot for shot in the first set.

“I got a jump on him in the second set,” said Chang, who’ll move up to No. 2 in the world when the ATP Tour rankings are released next week. “I think he might have had a little letdown after he missed (a crucial) breaker. He’d been serving and returning well, so I tried to change things a bit and I think it helped me out.”

With a one-set lead, Stafford had a chance to increase the pressure on Chang in the second set when he reached break point on the top seed’s serve. But Stafford missed his opportunity when he sent a backhand service return into the net.

Given a reprieve, Chang abruptly changed the tone of the match, winning 10 of the next 11 points and taking control. After holding serve for a 1-0 advantage, Chang broke Stafford at love with a pair of service return winners, then held again for 3-0. Chang then sailed through the set without much resistance from a discouraged Stafford.

Marcelo Rios won the biggest title of his career, beating Alex Corretja 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in the final of the Monte Carlo Open in Monaco.

Rios, who reached the Monte Carlo semifinal last year, has five titles in total. This victory will advance the Chilean two spots to No. 8 in the rankings.

Amanda Coetzer made the most of her late entry, defeating Sabine Applemans 6-1, 6-3 to capture the Budapest Ladies Open in Hungary.

Coetzer, the No. 4 seed from South Africa, won the first set in 26 minutes. She tested her Belgian opponent with long exchanges and dropped only the third game of the set.

Martina Navratilova beat Chris Evert 6-3 in singles at the Legends of Tennis tournament in Chicago. In doubles, Navratilova and Zina Garrison won 6-4 over Evert and Pam Shriver. Team Navratilova finished the two days of competition beating Team Evert 46-38.