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Wheaton Stops Stoltenberg

While it hasn't exactly been a soap opera, David Wheaton continued to provide a little daytime drama at the Legg Mason Classic.

This time Wheaton — who is looking to regain the form that took him to the 1991 Wimbledon semifinals — saved a match point as he disposed of No. 5 seed Jason Stoltenberg of Australia, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-1), Thursday afternoon on the stadium court of the William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Center in Northwest Washington.

"This is a big one there is no question about it," said Wheaton, who improved his career record against the 58th-ranked Stoltenberg to 4-4. "I don't care if he is ranked in the 50s ... I was down a match point. This is a big win."

In other matches Thursday, No. 2 seed Petr Korda insured himself his first top- 20 ranking since February 1995 with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over No. 2 seed Fernon Wibier. Vince Spadea, the No. 14 seed, beat Michael Tebutt, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.

For Wheaton — who had to qualify for this tournament after heel surgery sidelined the Lake Minnetonka, Minn., native for most of the season — Thursday's victory was his second over a seeded player in as many days. In this match, Wheaton never even faced a break-point opportunity against Stoltenberg, who had the only service break in the second game of the match.

"I had an opportunity in the second set," said Stoltenberg, who couldn't capitalize after leading 3-2, 0-30 on Wheaton's serve in that set. "I really felt I should have put the match away there. I played some careless points. But I thought he really raised his game in the second and third sets."

As the match moved into the later stages of the third set and neither player lost his serve, it appeared that the slightest break for either player would decide the match. Then Wheaton, who was one point from moving the set into a tiebreak, elected not to play Stoltenberg's service return and watched it drop inside the baseline. Two points later, Wheaton faced a match point, but an errant forehand by Stoltenberg gave him another chance.

Wheaton took advantage by forcing the tiebreak, then used the momentum to roll to a 6-0 lead with powerful serves and groundstrokes that kept the Aussie on the defensive. A forehand into the net by Stoltenberg sealed the match, and an exhausted Wheaton raised his hands to the scattered crowd, as he saved another point in his comeback.

In the first match of the day in the stadium, Korda continued his comeback from surgery on his groin. He now regrets that he did not take better care of the initial injury in 1995.

"I made a big mistake when I injured my groin," said Korda, who was ranked as high as No. 5 in 1992. "I kept playing for two years. "That's why I dropped from the top 20. I didn't practice at the time, I just played matches. I couldn't play matches back-to-back. I hurt my reputation as a player."

After undergoing surgery, Korda said he considered retiring, but after some rehabilitation, the 28-year-old is looking forward to playing a few more years.

Korda said he is happy about again cracking the top 20, but greater goals lie ahead.

"I just reached something that I set for myself," Korda said. "It's not over yet, I have a long road in front of me."

Despite being the tournament's No. 2 seed, Korda has not had the benefit of playing a night match when the temperature is less oppressive. When asked if he minded always playing in the heat, Korda said, "That's my job."