October 1, 2002	Tuesday	Rajab 23, 1423

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TOKYO, Sept 30: Former French Open champion Michael Chang beat Francisco Clavet 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in the opening round of the Japan Open on Monday, thrilling a local crowd which had braved rain to watch the 30-year-old American’s last appearance at the $800,000 tournament.

Chang got off to a great start — racing into a first-set 5-0 lead — but was taken the full distance by the Spaniard.

In a change from his usual baseline game, the American often attacked the net which proved the difference against the 33-year-old Clavet.

Chang said this would be his last tournament in Japan, adding that he planned to call it quits after playing for another year or so.

Chang hopes to do just that when he faces world number one Lleyton Hewitt in the second round.

Monday’s action was plagued by rain, with only four matches being played in the stadium court which has a retractable roof. 13 first round matches had been scheduled.

In other action 16th seed Taylor Dent beat local hero Hiroki Kondo 6-0, 7-5 and 11th seed Dominik Hrbaty, of Slovakia, beat another Japanese player, Takahiro Terachi 6-1, 6-2.

In the women’s draw Croatia’s Silvija Talaja outlasted Japan’s Shinobu Asagoe 6-4, 3-6, 6-0.