Chang makes exit

ROME, May 13:Michael Chang made a quick exit from the Italian Open today, eliminated in the first round in straight sets by a man 52 spots ...

ROME, May 13:Michael Chang made a quick exit from the Italian Open today, eliminated in the first round in straight sets by a man 52 spots lower in the ATP rankings.

Chang, No 2 in the world and seeded second here, lost to Argentina8217;s Hernan Gumy, 6-3, 6-2 on the Foro Italico8217;s clay courts. Three Spaniards fond of the slow, red surface advanced today, led by No 11 seed Albert Costa, who beat Germany8217;s Alex Radulescu 7-5, 6-2. Sergi Bruguera got past Australian Sandon Stolle 6-1, 6-4, while Alberto Berasategui defeated Daniel Vacek of the Czech Republic, 6-3, 6-4.

Thomas Muster made a winning start to the defence of his title, but there was no joy for seeds Wayne Ferreira and Mark Philippoussis.

Muster brought up his 500th clay court victory as the Austrian erased the memory of an early exit in Monte Carlo, sweeping to a 6-3, 6-2 victor over Italian wild card entrant Marzio Martelli.

But ninth seeded Ferreira missed five match points to allow Magnus Larsson to come through and win 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 7/5, while Morocco8217;s Karim Alami beat Philippoussis 6-2, 6-0.

Steffi Graf returns

BERLIN: Exactly 100 days after being sidelined by a knee injury, Steffi Graf was back today, slugging the ball in her first competitive match since being dethroned by Martina Hingis as world No 1.

The seven-time Wimbledon winner displayed her fierce forehand in a doubles match on the opening day of the German Open, and was clearly happy to be back.

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8220;The moment I stood on the court and hit the first ball in training was unbelievably wonderful,8221; said Graf, 27. 8220;I knew the reason why I8217;ve worked these months.8221;

Graf8217;s says her motivation for stepping on the court again has nothing to do with toppling teenage wonder Hingis from the top of rankings.

8220;Being No. 1 isn8217;t a motivation. Sorry can8217;t help you with that,8221; Graf said, and laughed.

Habsudova advances

BERLIN: Katrina Habsudova of Slovakia coasted and Mary Joe Fernandez struggled today, but both players reached the second round of a German Open boasting one of its strongest fields ever. Habsudova beat Sandra Kloesel of Germany, 7-5, 6-3, while Fernandez beat Flora Perfetti 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.

Top-trio unchanged

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HAMBURG: Injured Martina Hingis retained the world number one position in women8217;s tennis while Spain8217;s Conchita Martinez dropped further in the latest WTA Tour rankings released yesterday.

Martinez, meanwhile, dropped from sixth to eighth place after losing the Italian Open final to France8217;s Mary Pierce on Sunday. Pierce climbed from 15th to 11th place.

TOP 10: 1. Martina Hingis, Switzerland, 4,674 points; 2. Steffi Graf, Germany, 4,175; 3. Monica Seles, United States, 3,568; 4. Jana Novotna, Czech Republic; 3,313, 5. Lindsay Davenport, United States, 2,910; 6. Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Spain, 2,804; 7. Anke Huber, Germany, 2,701; 8. Conchita Martinez, Spain, 2,628; 9. Iva Majoli, Croatia, 2,514; 10. Amanda Coetzer, South Africa, 1,991

Sampras still No 1

HAMBURG: Pete Sampras of the United States remained on top of the latest ATP Tour rankings issued yesterday, while Ukrainian Andrei Medvedev returned into the top-20 courtesy of his third German Open title the previous day. The former top-five player Medvedev climbed 21 positions from number 38 to 17.

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TOP 10: 1. Pete Sampras, United States, 5,118 points; 2. Michael Chang, United States, 3,704; 3. Thomas Muster, Austria, 3,261; 4. Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Russia, 3,008; 5. Richard Krajicek, Holland, 2,881; 6. Goran Ivanisevic, Croatia, 2,710; 7. Thomas Enqvist, Sweden, 2,176; 8. Carlos Moya, Spain, 2,143; 9. Marcelo Rios, Chile, 2,072; 10. Albert Costa, Spain, 1,930