Chang bids tennis farewell

NEW YORK -- Michael Chang played his final match before retirement with the same flair and energy he's shown for years -- his feet just didn't move as quickly at age 31 as they used to.\nChang, feisty as ever, lost to 15th-seeded Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-3, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 Tuesday, in the first round of the U.S. Open., then walked back onto the court and waved goodbye to a standing ovation in Arthur Ashe Stadium.\n"Am I supposed to be able to explain my emotions?" Chang said. "New York has been such a special place to me. This is the only tournament I was able to play 17 straight times in my career.\n"I started my career here as a 15-year-old, and New York welcomed me. No doubt in part because I was born in Hoboken, New Jersey."\nWorld No. 1 and top-seeded Andre Agassi easily defeated Alex Corretja 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 in 1 hour, 26 minutes on center court. The 33-year-old Agassi blew kisses and bowed for the fans as he walked off the court.\n"It doesn't matter what you're ranked, you've got to come out here and beat these guys every day and prove yourself every day," Agassi said.\nIn women's play, second-seeded Justine Henin-Hardenne defeated Aniko Kapros 7-5, 6-3 in the second meeting between the aggressive baseliners who kept pounding away in long rallies until someone hit a winner or committed an error.\nChang was able to stay in his match with behind-the-back trickery, booming first serves and the emotion from an adoring crowd.\nGonzalez overpowered the former French Open champion with 15 aces and 62 winners. Chang, who received a wild-card entry into the tournament, won the French in 1989 at 17 and had a top ranking of No. 2.\nChang announced in January the Open would be his last event. He said his inability to maintain a high level on the court led to his decision. Plus, playing 15 years on the pro tour has taken its toll.\n"He's one of the gutsiest players who's ever played," John McEnroe said.\nChang said it was important to have fun in his final season regardless of his results. He won only two matches in 2003.\n"I think it was emotional for me," Chang said. "I think I try to keep my mind on other things in order to be able to keep my composure out there. I really think if you walk away from the tour feeling like 'I should have done that and should have done that' and you have regrets and don't walk away with a smile, something's not right."\nHenin-Hardenne lost to Kapros in the first round of the 2002 French Open -- their only previous meeting -- 4-6, 6-1, 6-0.\n"The first match is always tough, especially in Grand Slams," Henin-Hardenne said. "I tried to forget about what happened last year at the French Open."\nThey each made several spectacular saves on balls that seemed untouchable, and Henin-Hardenne hit 27 winners against the 129th-ranked Kapros. Kapros, a qualifier, broke Henin-Hardenne's serve twice in the 54-minute first set, but Henin-Hardenne began putting more pressure on her opponent and won 14 points at the net.\nIn other women's matches Tuesday, No. 15-seeded Ai Sugiyama beat Conchita Martinez Granados 6-1, 6-0; No. 32 Marie-Gaianeh Mikaelian defeated Marlene Weingartner 6-3, 6-1, and Mary Pierce advanced with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Stephanie Gehrlein. No. 30-seeded Magui Serna defeated Cho Yoon-jeong 3-6, 6-2, 6-1, No. 22 Jelena Dokic beat Emmanuelle Gagliardi 6-4, 6-2, and seventh-seeded Anastasia Myskina won in three sets against Henrieta Nagyova.\nIn men's action, 11th-seeded Paradorn Srichaphan beat Cyril Saulnier 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (4); No. 33 Juan Ignacio Chela defeated Roko Karanusic 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-3, and eighth-seeded Rainer Schuettler eliminated Wayne Arthurs 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. No. 28 Yevgeny Kafelnikov beat Kristof Vliegen 3-6, 7-6 (1), 6-2, 6-2, and 12th-seeded Sjeng Schalken won in straight sets over Julien Boutter.\nWith Serena and Venus Williams sidelined with injuries, there has been much hype about the chance for an all-Belgian final between Henin-Hardenne, the French Open champion, and world No. 1 Kim Clijsters.\n"It's still very early to talk about any player who can win this tournament," Henin-Hardenne said.\nThe top-seeded Clijsters defeated wild-card Amber Liu of the United States 6-2, 6-3 Monday night to reach the second round. Clijsters has never won a Grand Slam.