Tags:
Journalism of Courage
MASON, Aug 10: Thomas Muster got off to a fast start with a near-perfect opening set in what became a marathon 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 7-2 upset of Michael Chang in the ATP Championship semi-finals here yesterday.
The 29-year-old, fast shedding his reputation as merely a clay court master, moved a step closer to a third title this year on hardcourt with the two-hour, 16-minute victory at the 2.3 million event.
Former world number one faces a battle with on-form world number one Pete Sampras, who dispatched Spain8217;s Albert Costa 6-3, 6-4 in the other semi-final.
Muster denied Chang a place in his fifth consecutive final here. The American took the crown in 1993 and 1994 then and lost two finals after that to Andre Agassi.
8220;It8217;s always tough to play Michael,8221; Muster said. 8220;He is world number two and a great competitor. He runs so well that I had to force my forehand and try for good returns on his second serve to win. I hope the atmosphere is this good when I play Pete tomorrow.8221;
Muster earned his sixth victory from eight matches against Chang, who leads the ATP Tour with five titles this year.
Muster started strong, winning to love on all four of his service games in the 29-minute first set 8212; 16 consecutive points. The animated Muster clowned with the crowd after good shots, yet kept his early concentration.
A break of Chang in the third game set the stage for Muster and the Austrian took full advantage.
Muster then moved into set-winning position as Chang double-faulted to yield a set point and the fifth seed snapped up the chance as Chang then sent a return wild to lose.
In the second, the Austrian dropped serve to start, but Chang had trouble re-asserting authority.
The American saved two break points for 2-0, but dropped serve two games later as Muster levelled at two games apiece.
Chang8217;s tenacity paid off and he took the set 6-4. In the third each man broke once. But Muster stormed into control in the tie-breaker, moving into position with five match points.
Sampras had to overcome a late hiccup in his perfectly constructed match as he produced his second double-fault of the afternoon to give Costa two break points in the eighth game of the second set, losing serve. It was only the fourth time in last 151 games that the world number one has dropped his serve.
8220;I wasn8217;t really in any trouble,8221; said Sampras. 8220;I just got a little careless serving for it.8221;
