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Chang Wins Legg Mason

Just reaching the final of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic assured Michael Chang his highest ranking ever. Sunday afternoon, he put an exclamation mark on his rise to No. 3 in the world by beating fourth-seeded Wayne Ferreira, 6-2, 6-4 to win the tournament

Chang, the tournament's second seed, withstood an early break and won seven straight games before 7,332 at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Northwest Washington. Chang captured the tournament's $90,000 top prize while Ferreira earned $47,300 for his runner-up finish.

Chang had not played in Washington since losing to Andre Agassi in the 1990 semifinals. By reaching the final, Chang, who began the week ranked fifth in the world, slipped by No. 4 Boris Becker and No. 3 Andre Agassi. Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov's loss to Thomas Muster in the final of the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart, Germany earlier Sunday, ensured Chang's spot.

Chang used a combination of his oldest and newest weapons to defeat Ferreira for the fourth time in four meetings. The 24-year-old Nevada native won several points with his new-found power serve. And when Chang's serve did not win a point, he was often able to outwait Ferreira, who tried to go for winners on most of his shots.

"That is pretty much Wayne's style of playing," Chang said. "Wayne is not one to hold back on his shots. He will make some; he will miss some. You just hope on the day you play him that he is not making more than he is missing."

The scrappy Chang won the match on his third match point when, after chasing down a Ferreira smash and throwing up a defensive lob, Ferreira netted a relatively easy overhead.

It was Chang's 25th career singles title and second this year. After Ferreira broke Chang's serve for a 2-1 lead in the first set, Chang ran off five straight games as Ferreira became increasingly frustrated. "Against Michael, you have to go for your shots all the time," he said. "If you sit back and rally, you are not going to win."

While Ferreira struggled with his serve, making only 47 percent (31 of 66) first serves, Chang nailed three aces and several more service winners in the set. For the match, Chang won 78 percent of points on which he made his first serve. "It is becoming more and more an important part of my game," Chang said of his serve. "My game is still not based around it, but my serve is still playing a role."

Ferreira, a South African who now lives in Paris, made 17 unforced errors in the first set, most of them from the baseline. By the end of the set, Ferreira simply blasted away, as though he just wanted to end it quickly. "I have to serve well—if I do not, I am going to struggle," he said. "I served very badly today."

Chang won the set when Ferreira sailed a topspin forehand about four feet long. It was the third consecutive game Ferreira failed to hold serve. He had lost his serve just twice in his first four matches of the tournament.

Chang began the second set strong, taking a 2-0 lead before Ferreira regained his composure and got back into the match. But he was never able to forge a lead and Chang broke him in the final game of the match for the victory.

Ferreira, who began the week ranked 13th, moved up to No. 11. He will head to Atlanta to compete in the Olympics this week. Chang, who competed in the 1992 Olympics in Seoul, will play in Los Angeles next week.

Grant Connell and Scott Davis, the eighth-seeded doubles team, won the first set from Doug Flach and Chris Woodruff, 7-6 (7-3) in the doubles final.