A Chang for the better

LOS ANGELES -- It has been almost two years since Michael Chang won an ATP Tour title, but his quest to snap that streak continues week after week, city after city.

Chang is a grinder-- content to outlast and outrun his opponents until the very end.

He always has been.

This week, the former Henderson resident's travels have brought him back to the Mercedes-Benz Cup for his 10th appearance at the tournament he won in 1996. On Tuesday night, Chang cruised to a 6-4, 6-2, first-round victory over Australian qualifier Paul Kilderry.

"For me tonight, it was important to play consistent, to play aggressive and to keep him moving," Chang said. "Paul is a good player.

"For the most part I felt it was a good match, though there were some tense moments."

Those moments certainly were not as frustrating as the past few years have been.

Chang's recent decline can be traced to last year, when his 11-year streak of winning at least one tour title was snapped and he failed to reach a tournament final for the first time in his career.

"I think it was definitely very frustrating," Chang said. "At times it has been disappointing and discouraging, but I think we all have those times.

"I realize you get down, but it does you no good unless you pick yourself back up. A lot of it is attitude, perspective and getting back to basics of what I believe in and things that are important to me.

"Tennis became bigger than what it should have been."

Now 28, Chang, who has amassed more than $18 million in career earnings, still doesn't have a potent weapon in his repertoire like Pete Sampras' first or second serve or Las Vegan Andre Agassi's lethal forehand.

Chang entered the tournament 34th in the ATP champions race.

Though he is a step slower than he was at 17, when he was running opponents ragged on the way to his first and only Grand Slam title -- the 1989 French Open -- Chang does have the same determination that has made him a threat on the tour all these years.

That determination, coupled with his new attitude about winning and losing, has helped Chang turn the corner.

"I'm at peace with where I am," Chang said. "I don't know what the future holds, if bigger and better things await me than what's already taken place, but I'm content."

Chang was quick to clear up the difference between being content and being complacent. While Chang is happy with himself, he believes his career is far from over.

"I don't think you can ever set a time line," Chang said. "I think everyone realizes when their time is up.

"If I don't want to go out there and practice; if I don't want to put the time out there; if I don't enjoy playing the matches and I don't enjoy traveling; if any of those things come into my heart then something is not right.

"I've given 13 of my best years and unless I give 100 percent then I don't do it at all. At this point in time, I don't feel that way."

In other first-round matches Tuesday, American Alex O'Brien upset seventh-seeded Andrew Ilie, 6-3, 6-2, when Ilie double-faulted on match point; Thailand's Paradorn Scrichaphan defeated Sebastien Lareau, 6-4, 6-4; and Jason Stoltenberg beat Bob Bryan 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

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