One of the Few Americans in Paris, Chang Wins

PARIS — The Swedes, the Spaniards, even the Australians, are making historic inroads in this year’s French Open men’s competition. No one is talking at all about the Americans. With good reason.

Led by top-seeded Pete Sampras, the cavalcade of Americans here includes Michael Chang and Chris Woodruff. Period.

The second-seeded Chang advanced to the third round Thursday, defeating Jerome Golmard of France, 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. Woodruff came close to leaving before defeating Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador, 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Spain’s Felix Mantilla was the only seeded player who lost Thursday. Magnus Larsson of Sweden, who ousted former champion Jim Courier in the first round, beat the 10th-seeded Mantilla, 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Marcelo Rios of Chile, seeded seventh, came from two sets down to beat Byron Black of Zimbabwe, 6-7 (7-3), 6-7 (7-0), 7-6 (7-4), 6-0.

Chang, who won here in 1989, has an unusually high comfort level on clay, unlike many of his compatriots.

“I think it’s very easy to come to the French Open and get a little bit psyched out, as far as the surface [is concerned],” Chang said. “One of the things is attitude. You have to have a good, positive attitude coming in here. For me, I expect to go out and have tough matches. I expect long matches and I go out and prepare for that.”

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Today’s Featured Matches

MEN

* Pete Sampras (1) vs. Magnus Norman

* Thomas Muster (5) vs. Gustavo Kuerten

* Alex Corretja (8) vs. Thierry Champion

WOMEN

* Steffi Graf (2) vs. Maria Serna

* Jana Novotna vs. Nicole Arendt

* Lindsay Davenport (5) vs. Patty Schnyder

* Conchita Martinez (7) vs. Caroline Dhenin

* Iva Majoli (9) vs. Ann Grossman